Centre cancels foreign funding licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO after Ladakh unrest

The move comes a day after violent clashes erupted in Leh during protests demanding Ladakh’s statehood.

Demonstrators indulged in arson and vandalism, attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party office and Hill Council headquarters and torching vehicles.

Four people were killed, and at least 80 others, including 40 police personnel, were injured before security forces used tear gas to restore order and imposed a curfew.

Holding Wangchuk responsible, the Centre accused him of making “provocative” speeches and drawing references to the Arab Spring and Nepal’s Gen Z protests, which it said incited the mob violence.

The ministry alleged that the unrest resulted in attacks on BJP and government offices, property damage, and injuries to more than 30 police and paramilitary personnel.

Wangchuk, however, rejected the allegations, terming them a “scapegoat tactic” to deflect attention from Ladakh’s core issues.

“To say it was instigated by me, or sometimes by Congress, is to find a scapegoat, rather than addressing the core of the problem, and this will lead us nowhere. They may be clever in making somebody else a scapegoat, but they are not wise,” he told PTI, adding that he was ready to face arrest under the Public Safety Act.

The NGO, registered under the FCRA to receive foreign contributions for cultural and educational activities, had earlier received a show cause notice on August 20 and a reminder on September 10. SECMOL replied on September 19.

According to an India Today report, after reviewing the response, the MHA listed several violations, including:

Irregular deposits: In 2021–22, ₹3.5 lakh was deposited into the FCRA account, claimed as proceeds from the sale of an old bus. The ministry found discrepancies in the explanation and said the reply was “not tenable.”

Mixing local and foreign funds: In 2020–21, ₹54,600 from local individuals was wrongly deposited in the FCRA account, which the NGO admitted was a volunteer error.

Funds for sovereignty studies: SECMOL received ₹4.93 lakh from Swedish organisation Framtidsjorden for programmes including studies on “sovereignty.” MHA said such funding was against national interest.

Returning donations: In 2021, ₹19,600 was refunded to a donor whose volunteering was cancelled due to Covid-19. The ministry said the Act does not permit such refunds.

Unaccounted receipts: ₹79,200 in foreign contributions, deducted from staff salaries as food fees, was not credited to the FCRA account.

Citing violations of Sections 8(1)(a), 17, 18, 19, and conditions under Section 12(4) of the Act, the MHA cancelled SECMOL’s licence with immediate effect under Section 14(1).

“This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority,” the order stated.