Days after Ladakh-based groups engaged in talks with the Centre announced an “in-principle understanding” on constitutional safeguards, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday said he had “cautioned” climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to “abjure from weaving a misleading and provocative narrative, which vitiates public discourse”.
The statement came after Saxena said he had “a candid exchange” with Wangchuk and Gitanjali Angmo against the backdrop of the “constructive dialogue” in the Union Home Ministry.
“We agreed that an air of positivity, both in terms of development initiatives and political dialogue, needs to be maintained,” he said.
In a post on X, the L-G said he had cautioned Wangchuk to “abjure from weaving a misleading and provocative narrative, which vitiates public discourse”.
Noting that “democratic expression must not be taken as licence for fabricating falsehoods and rabble-rousing”, Saxena said Wangchuk “accepted that comparing the situation of Ladakh with Manipur was an error of judgement”.
Wangchuk had recently said he feared Ladakh would become another Manipur, but described the recent Ministry of Home Affairs talks as a positive shift.
Saxena also quoted Wangchuk as saying that “he was unsure of the origins of the Cockroach Party” and would “study the motivations of its founders and revisit his stand, if necessary”.
Wangchuk had last week voiced support for the online “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), describing himself as an “honorary cockroach”.
The L-G said he had also “highlighted that repeated rallies and protests, despite positive developments initiated by the Centre, will have a negative impact on economic activities in the tourism space, which is the backbone of Ladakh”.
According to Saxena, Wangchuk appreciated “positive development initiatives like the Him Sarovar project, restoration of the Igoo Phey Canal, construction of the Mahe-Topko Canal and massive plantation drives undertaken in recent days”.
