The move comes a day after four people were killed and at least 80 injured in violent clashes between protesters demanding statehood for Ladakh and security personnel during a shutdown in Leh
The government has blamed activist Sonam Wangchuk for instigating the violence in Ladakh on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
The Union Home Ministry on Thursday cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an organisation founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, citing financial irregularities and a foreign fund transfer from Sweden that it deemed against “national interest”, news agency PTI reported.
The ministry said the cancellation, which takes effect immediately, followed the detection of multiple discrepancies in SECMOL’s accounts.
The move comes a day after four people were killed and at least 80 injured in Ladakh protest. Violent clashes were reported in the Himalayan state between protesters demanding statehood for Ladakh and security personnel during a shutdown in Leh. The government has blamed Wangchuk for instigating the violence.
When contacted by PTI, Wangchuk said he was only a donor to SECMOL and also taught there. He added that he was not aware of the cancellation order.
Apart from SECMOL, Wangchuk also founded the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), which is under Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe for alleged violations of FCRA.
According to the home ministry, SECMOL had been licensed to accept foreign contributions for cultural and educational programmes, PTI reported. A show-cause notice was earlier issued over irregularities in its finances.
Ladakh protest: Rs 4.93-lakh transaction from Sweden under scrutiny, says home ministry
It alleged that in 2021-22, Wangchuk deposited Rs 3.5 lakh in the association’s FCRA account, violating Section 17 of the Act. SECMOL explained that the money was the sale proceeds of an old bus purchased with foreign funds under the Act, which, as per guidelines, had to be deposited in the FCRA account. The ministry, however, said the amount was received in cash, in breach of the Act, and not properly disclosed.
The ministry also pointed to a Rs 3.35-lakh donation from Wangchuk that was not reflected in SECMOL’s FCRA account, terming it a violation of Section 18 of the Act. It further flagged the transfer of Rs 54,600 in local funds into the FCRA account, which SECMOL admitted was an error.
Another transaction under scrutiny was a contribution of about Rs 4.93 lakh from Sweden, meant for workshops on migration, climate change, global warming, food security, sovereignty and organic farming, PTI reported. While SECMOL argued the funds were used for educational purposes, the ministry said foreign contributions cannot be used for activities linked to the sovereignty of the nation, calling it against “national interests.”
Citing these and other discrepancies, the ministry invoked Section 14 of the FCRA to cancel SECMOL’s licence.
Earlier in the day, Wangchuk had alleged that the government was preparing to detain him under the Public Safety Act. “I see they are building up a case to bring me under the Public Safety Act and throw me in jail for two years. I am ready for that, but Sonam Wangchuk in jail may cause them more problems than free Sonam Wangchuk,” he said.
Wangchuk, who has been spearheading the movement for Ladakh’s statehood and constitutional safeguards, also expressed concern for his personal safety.
(With PTI inputs)
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