Srinagar, Oct 11: In a sharp political and administrative escalation, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena launched a scathing attack on prominent climate activist and education reformer from Ladakh Sonam Wangchuk.
Criticising Wangchuk’s recent statements comparing the situation in Ladakh to “an undeclared emergency,” Tibet and Manipur, the Lieutenant Governor alleged that “activists have a habitual tendency to make provocative remarks simply to stay in the news.”
While speaking at a media conclave in New Delhi, LG Saxena openly questioned Wangchuk’s tangible record on environmental conservation, stating that the activist failed to provide a convincing account when asked about his concrete contributions to protecting Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem. LG Saxena stated he personally asked Wangchuk what specific work he had executed on the ground, pointing out ecological crises such as the shrinking of Tso Kar lake from roughly 11,000 acres to 3,200 acres.
He noted that Wangchuk’s responses regarding plantation and educational contributions were “not convincing at all”. Noting that the media describes Wangchuk as an “environmentalist, climate activist and educationist”, the LG said he had asked the activist about his contributions to Ladakh when they met.
“I have met him and I asked him the same question: ‘Wangchuk Sahib, tell me what you have done for environmental protection in Ladakh. Look at climate change. You have seen that our Tso Kar Lake, which used to cover around 11,000 acres, has shrunk to only 3,200 acres.
What have you done about it? How many trees have you planted? And what have you done for education?” Saxena said. The LG said Wangchuk’s “answers were not convincing at all”.
“He could not give any example of what he had done that had benefited Ladakh so much,” he said. Saxena said he had invited Wangchuk to several events, including the inauguration of rock check dams, but the activist did not attend.
“My purpose was that if he had done some very good work, I could also learn from it and implement it myself. But somehow, he could not give an answer,” he said. The Lieutenant Governor claimed that public participation in Wangchuk’s recent calls to protest had drastically dwindled, prompting the activist to resort to extreme comparisons.
He cited a September 23 march where “not even 50 people joined,” forcing the planned 20-kilometre march to conclude after just 4 kilometres. A padyatra led by Wangchuk was organised in Leh to mark the first death anniversary of the four people killed in the September 2025 violence in Ladakh.
“He had announced a very big movement on September 23 and 24. He had said that on September 23, we would undertake a 20-kilometre march in which thousands of people would participate. I want to tell you that on September 23, there were not even 50 people and the march, which he had said would cover 20 kilometres, had to be stopped after four kilometres, and everyone left in vehicles,” Saxena said.
“So, when the public did not support them, he made the statement that Ladakh was worse than Tibet. At the same time, he said that China was better and that there was more democracy there than in India. Such statements are made to remain in the news. Before this, he had also said that Ladakh was like Manipur. The purpose of making such statements is to remain in the news and perhaps that is why he has made this statement today as well,” Saxena said.
Addressing Wangchuk’s previous remarks drawing parallels between Ladakh, Tibet, Manipur, and China, the LG remarked that such statements are made, driven by a motivation to stay in headlines after failing to gather local momentum.
“Activists have a habit of staying in the news. When the public did not support them (him), he made the statement that Ladakh was worse than Tibet. Such statements are made to remain in the news.”
On Saturday, Wangchuk criticised the restrictions imposed on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest and warned that he might consider a peaceful sit-in, hunger strike or march in Leh or Delhi if the curbs were not withdrawn.
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