Unacceptable: Rahul Gandhi, Opposition condemn Sonam Wangchuk's detention

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi asked why elderly people standing up for the future of Ladakh were being detained by the police at the Delhi border.

In Short

• Rahul Gandhi called Sonam Wangchuk's detention as "unacceptable"
• Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said curfew imposed by police was "very bad"
• Around 120 people from Ladakh were detained

Opposition leaders have condemned the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk at the Delhi border, calling it "very bad" and "unacceptable". Delhi Police detained around 120 people from Ladakh on Monday night, including Wangchuk, who were marching to the national capital demanding sixth schedule status for the union territory.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi termed the detention "unacceptable".

AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also slammed the central government, calling the curfew imposed by the police "very bad".

Former Delhi Chief Minister, while reacting to Sonam Wangchuk's detention, said everyone has the right to come to the national capital.

Activist Wangchuk and other volunteers embarked on a foot march from Leh to New Delhi on September 1 to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh's leadership regarding their demands. One of their key demands is for Ladakh to be included in the sixth schedule of the Constitution, which would grant law-making powers to the local population to protect their land and cultural identity. Another is separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

Wangchuk and others wanted to spend the night at the border. However, they were initially requested to go back as prohibitory orders had been imposed in Delhi till October 5, but when they did not stop, the policemen who were already deployed at the border, detained about 120 men.

Shortly before being detained, Sonam Wangchuk shared visuals from the Delhi border, where, amid a huge police presence, their buses were stopped.

In his post, Wangchuk said several vehicles of Delhi Police and Haryana Police were accompanying their buses and while they initially thought they were being escorted, it was clear they were going to be detained.

Sonam Wangchuk and others were taken to nearby police stations while the women participating in the march were not detained.

Delhi Police on Monday banned the gathering of five or more persons, people carrying banners, placards and arms or protests in the central part and bordering areas for the next six days in the national capital, citing law and order issues, including calls of protests given by several organisations.