Amid Ladakh protests, MHA cancels FCRA license of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO

September 25, 2025 by News Desk

Amid intensifying protests in Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its probe into alleged irregularities.

According to sources, the CBI has been scrutinising Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL) for the past two months over suspected violations of FCRA norms. However, no preliminary enquiry (PE) or regular case has been registered yet.

In August, the Ladakh administration revoked the land allotted to HIAL, citing that the institute had failed to utilise the land for the stated purpose and had not executed a lease agreement. Officials said the CBI may initiate a formal enquiry once the ongoing fact-finding exercise concludes.

The developments unfold against the broader unrest across Leh and Kargil, where many have been demanding statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The MHA has blamed Wangchuk for “misleading the people” and invoking “Arab Spring–style” references.

In its statement, the MHA noted that it has been holding negotiations with the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance through the High-Powered Committee and its sub-committees. It cited gains such as raising reservations for Scheduled Tribes from 45 % to 84 %, granting one-third reservation for women in the councils, and declaring Bhoti and Purgi as official languages. Recruitment for 1,800 government posts has also been initiated, the ministry said.

Despite pleas from several Ladakhi leaders to call off his protest, Wangchuk has continued his hunger strike that began on September 10. The MHA alleged that “politically motivated individuals” were trying to sabotage the dialogue process.

The next meeting of the High-Powered Committee is scheduled for October 6.

The tension flared violently on Wednesday, when six persons were killed and dozens injured during protests in Leh. The demonstrators torched a BJP office and a police van, pelted stones, and confronted security forces amid shutdown calls