Leh/Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, on Tuesday said he had a “candid exchange” with activist Sonam Wangchuk and his wife Gitanjali Angmo during a meeting here and stressed the need to maintain a positive atmosphere in Ladakh in terms of political dialogue and development initiatives.
At the same time, the LG cautioned the activist against what he termed as “misleading and provocative narrative” that could vitiate public discourse.
Wangchuk and Angmo called on the Lieutenant Governor at Raj Bhawan on Tuesday, following what Saxena described as a constructive dialogue held recently in the Union Home Ministry.
In a post on X, Saxena said, “Had a candid exchange with Shri Sonam Wangchuk and Smt. Gitanjali Angmo in 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.”
“I cautioned Wangchuk to abjure from weaving a misleading and provocative narrative, which vitiates public discourse. Democratic expression must not be taken as licence for fabricating falsehoods and rabble-rousing,” the LG said.
According to Saxena, Wangchuk acknowledged that comparing the situation in Ladakh with that of Manipur was “an error of judgement”.
“He also said 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,” the LG said.
Wangchuk had last week voiced support for the online “cockroach” movement led by the self-styled “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), describing himself as an “honorary cockroach” and urging the government to engage with the concerns being raised by youngsters.
In a cautionary note, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted that repeated rallies and protests, despite development initiatives undertaken by the Centre, could adversely affect economic activities, particularly tourism, which remains the backbone of Ladakh’s economy.
Saxena said that Wangchuk appreciated several recent development projects in the Union Territory, including the Him Sarovar project, restoration of the Igoo Phey Canal, construction of the Mahe-Topko Canal and large-scale plantation drives.
The Centre had in March revoked Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA) in March this year, nearly six months after his arrest following violent protests in Leh over demands for statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
A meeting between representatives of Ladakhi groups — Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) — and the MHA sub-committee was held on Friday focusing on constitutional protection for Ladakh, democratic representation and the long-pending demand for statehood.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, two days after protests in Leh turned violent, leaving four people dead and injuring more than 45 others, including 22 police personnel. Authorities subsequently released the activist after revoking his detention order.
