The central government on Thursday canceled the FCRA license of Sonam Wangchuk’s Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) with immediate effect. The decision has been taken after the violence in Ladakh in which four people died and many others were injured. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in its order that the non-profit organization of Ladakh worker has ‘repeated’ violations of foreign donations. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that Vangchuk’s individual and joint accounts received funds, which is a direct violation of FCRA 2010. It further states that his NGOs received crores of rupees from abroad between 2021 and 2024, which increased the concern of possible money laundering, as these external foreign funds were sent to unknown institutions.
Also read this: Gen Z Revolution in Leh: Why is the ‘Paisuk Wangdu’ with 3 Idiots accused of burning Leh-Ladakh in the fire of viraho?
The Home Ministry said in its order that Sonam Wangchuk is presenting herself as a representative of the people, but his record of financial misconduct tells something else. His actions are in danger of derailing creative dialogue and converting real concerns into tools of personal and political gains. In its order, the Union Home Ministry said that 59 -year -old Wangchuk has nine private bank accounts, but eight of them have not been announced. The ministry said that many of these eight accounts have a large amount of foreign funds. Also, Wangchuk sent about Rs 2.3 crore abroad from his personal account between 2021 and 2024.
Also read this: Ladakh violence results of BJP’s promise: Akhilesh
The ministry said that Wangchuk also received foreign funds of Rs 1.68 crore in various accounts between 2018 and 2024. He criticizes the corporate sector, but takes huge funds from various corporate institutions including the central government’s public undertakings under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Four people were killed and 80 others, including 40 policemen, were killed in violence in Ladakh. The protesters were demanding state status to Ladakh and expansion of the Sixth Schedule, which makes special provisions for tribal population in the context of financial powers through the reference to the government, the powers of the President and the Governor, the type of local bodies, the alternative judicial system and the autonomous councils.