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| After Leh violence, MHA cancels FCRA licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO | | | Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 25: A day after holding activist Sonam Wangchuk responsible for unprecedented mob violence in Leh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing repeated violations of the Act.
According to the MHA order, SECMOL was found involved in multiple financial irregularities, including irregular deposits and misuse of foreign funds. The association allegedly showed Rs 3.35 lakh as foreign donations without reflecting the amount in its designated FCRA account and wrongly deposited Rs 54,600 from local sources into the same account. The Ministry further noted that funds were received from foreign donors for activities linked to sovereignty issues, terming it a matter “against national interest.”
The order also pointed out that SECMOL refunded Rs 19,600 to a donor in violation of FCRA provisions and failed to properly account for Rs 79,200 deducted from staff salaries. “These repeated violations constitute a serious breach of the Act,” the MHA concluded, announcing immediate cancellation of the organisation’s licence. The cancellation bars SECMOL from receiving or utilising any foreign contributions henceforth.
In its statement, the Ministry also directly blamed Wangchuk for triggering the recent violence in Leh. It said the activist “abandoned his hunger strike midway and left when the situation spiraled out of control,” leading to mob attacks. The MHA urged people of Ladakh not to be swayed by “provocative videos,” while listing government initiatives in the region, including enhanced ST reservations, women’s representation, and recognition of Bhoti and Purgi languages.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Ladakh Union Territory administration has cancelled the allotment of 54 hectares (10,76 kanals) of land to Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternate Learning. The land, allotted in 2018 on a 40-year lease, was revoked after the Deputy Commissioner of Leh observed that it was neither used for the intended purpose nor developed into a recognised university. The DC also directed the removal of all encumbrances from the state land. |
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