Avinav Verma

Jammu: Days before the Centre’s next round of talks with Ladakh’s political representatives, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has hit back at climate activist Sonam Wangchuk over his description of India as being under an “undeclared emergency”, accusing him of making controversial statements to remain in the news and questioning the public response to his September mobilisation.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Saxena challenged Wangchuk’s comparisons of Ladakh with Tibet and India with China, and cited the turnout at a march on September 23 and a rally on September 24 to question the activist’s political messaging.

Wangchuk had used the phrase “undeclared emergency” in a post on X following reports of arrests of student and youth leaders in Delhi ahead of a planned protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. He had condemned the arre...