Why Is Sonam Wangchuk missing from the CJP protest in Delhi?
Sonam Wangchuk has expressed support for the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest in Delhi demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Unable to attend, the Ladakh-based environmentalist is working on artificial glaciers and measures to address threats from dangerous Himalayan glacial lakes.
Ladakh-based environmentalist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has voiced support for the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest in Delhi, even as pressing environmental concerns have kept him in Ladakh.
Wangchuk said he was occupied with preparations for the coming winter and efforts to strengthen water security in the Himalayan region. He also drew attention to the threat posed by more than 200 potentially dangerous glacial lakes, warning that urgent measures were needed to prevent disasters in the region.
The CJP held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday, October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition to the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls remains a central issue for the movement.
In a post and video shared on X on October 9, Wangchuk explained why he would not be able to attend the demonstration. He said his ongoing work in Ladakh, particularly in preparation for winter, required his attention.
His work includes experiments with artificial glaciers to improve water availability, as well as efforts to mitigate the risks associated with glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
GLOFs occur when water stored in a glacial lake is suddenly released, often following the breach of a natural or artificial barrier. The resulting floods can devastate settlements and damage roads, bridges and other infrastructure downstream. Carrying huge volumes of water, rocks and debris, they pose a serious threat to communities in mountainous regions.
Wangchuk described the more than 200 potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the upper Himalayas as ticking water bombs, underlining the urgency of preparing for possible disasters. His concerns highlight the wider implications of Himalayan environmental degradation for water security, disaster management and the livelihoods of mountain communities.
Explaining his absence from the Delhi protest, Wangchuk also invoked the sentiment of a famous couplet by Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, reflecting on the many sorrows in the world beyond politics and the other sources of comfort that life offers.
He appealed to leaders associated with different groups to work together despite their differences, stressing that coordination and responsible leadership were essential in the larger public interest.
Wangchuk also urged young people, particularly members of Gen Z participating in the agitation, to remain peaceful. Recalling Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to non-violence, he emphasised that the movement should uphold those principles under all circumstances.
Wangchuk has previously played a prominent role in the CJP-led agitation. In July this year, he began a hunger strike in support of students protesting allegations of a question paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. After fasting for 26 days, he was removed from the protest site and taken to hospital. He subsequently called off his hunger strike on July 23 following discussions with government representatives. The agitation was followed by the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
His involvement in the movement has also drawn attention to his own history of confrontation with the authorities. In September 2025, Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) following violent clashes in Leh that claimed four lives. He was released from Jodhpur Central Jail in March 2026 after the Union government revoked his detention.
His absence from Saturday’s protest comes at a time when the CJP-led agitation is seeking to intensify pressure on the Election Commission over electoral roll revisions. While the movement centres on questions of electoral integrity, Wangchuk remains focused on the environmental threats facing Ladakh and the wider Himalayan region.
His message brings together two concerns that might otherwise appear separate: the right to peaceful protest and the responsibility to protect people's lives and livelihoods. By backing the agitation while continuing his work in Ladakh, Wangchuk has called for solidarity among protesters without losing sight of the urgent environmental challenges facing Himalayan communities.
