Don't kill the messenger: Sonam Wangchuk warns Centre over crackdown on protesters

India Today · India Today News Desk · 2026-10-24 18:12 UTC

Sonam Wangchuk defended peaceful street protests at the IPF Festival in Mumbai He said dissent strengthens governance while local voices must shape Ladakh039s future

Sonam Wangchuk defended peaceful street protests at the IPF Festival in Mumbai. He said dissent strengthens governance while local voices must shape Ladakh's future.

Climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday said peaceful protests act as a feedback mechanism and encourage governments to perform better, news agency Press Trust of India reported. He cited unrest in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as examples of what could happen when people are not allowed to express their concerns peacefully.

Speaking at the IPF Festival in Mumbai, Wangchuk said several countries allow protests outside their parliaments. He argued that protests serve as a pressure valve for governments and should not be pushed far away from centres of power.

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