Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has once again been “masked” after the Center revoked Sonam Wangchuk’s detention with immediate effect.
In a post on Twitter, Kejriwal criticized Wangchuk’s arrest “without evidence” and said this “blatant dictatorship must be exposed”.
He said, “The Modi government has once again been exposed. A scientist and climate activist, who had dedicated his life to the service of the nation, was arrested without any evidence. His months spent in jail were not only a personal loss for him, but also a loss for the country. This blatant dictatorship must be immediately exposed and stopped.”
Kejriwal was acquitted along with 22 others by a special court in Delhi in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the decision to release Wangchuk and urged the Supreme Court to evolve a strict criteria for the maximum period of detention without trial.
In a post on Twitter, Tharoor criticized “indefinite detention” without trial, calling it “an undemocratic practice of the colonial era” which he says has no place in a mature democracy.
I am extremely happy that the Central Government has revoked the ban on Sonam Wangchuk.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday said the government has decided to revoke the custody of Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect, in exercise of the powers available under the National Security Act (NSA).
The Home Ministry said the government is committed to creating an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh so that constructive and meaningful dialogue can be established with all stakeholders, and the decision to revoke Wangchuk’s detention has been taken “in furtherance of this objective and after due deliberations”.
It further said that the government is actively interacting with various stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh to address the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region.
However, the Home Ministry pointed out that the prevailing atmosphere of bandh and protests has been detrimental to the peaceful character of the society and has adversely affected various sections of the community including students, job aspirants, businesses, tour operators, tourists and the overall economy.
Wangchuk was detained under the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, 2025, under an order issued by the District Magistrate, Leh, for the purpose of maintaining public order, in view of the serious law and order situation that arose in the peace-loving city of Leh on September 24, 2025. Wangchuk has already spent almost half of the period of detention under the said Act.
