New Delhi, September 25: The Union Home Ministry has decided to cancel the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), associated with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. This action takes effect immediately, as reported by an official government order.
The ministry’s cancellation follows identified discrepancies in SECMOL’s financial activities. Notably, the organization received a fund transfer from Sweden, which the ministry deemed contrary to national interest.
SECMOL was initially permitted to accept foreign donations for cultural and educational efforts. However, the organization now faces scrutiny, not just for its own operations but also because Wangchuk’s other enterprise, the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged FCRA violations.
Prior to the license cancellation, the ministry had issued a show-cause notice to SECMOL, seeking clarifications on financial irregularities. It was reported that Wangchuk deposited Rs 3.5 lakh into the FCRA account, potentially in breach of Section 17 of the FCRA.
SECMOL claimed this money came from the sale of an old bus, which the organization bought using FCRA funds back in 2015. According to the rules, proceeds from any asset acquired through FCRA funding must return to the same FCRA account.
However, the ministry indicated that the deposited amount was received in cash, without proper disclosure as required by law. It further disclosed that another transaction of Rs 3.35 lakh labeled as a foreign contribution from Wangchuk also did not appear in the FCRA account.
Additionally, the ministry identified a transfer of Rs 54,600 into SECMOL’s FCRA account, which the organization attributed to a mistake. A foreign contribution valued at approximately Rs 4.93 lakh raised concern as it was intended to support awareness programs on youth issues, climate change, food security, and organic farming.
SECMOL contended that these funds were utilized solely for educational activities. However, the Home Ministry reiterated that accepting foreign funding for studies on national sovereignty contradicts national interests.
The Home Ministry flagged these discrepancies, invoking its powers under Section 14 of the FCRA to enact the cancellation of SECMOL’s license.
In response to the Ministry’s actions, Wangchuk expressed concern about his legal circumstances and suggested the government aimed to imprison him. Wangchuk, a prominent advocate for statehood and constitutional protection for Ladakh, stated, “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.”
This situation has raised alarms about the treatment of activists and individuals championing local issues, with many viewing the Home Ministry’s actions as an attempt to silence dissent.
As the case unfolds, the implications for SECMOL’s future and the broader context of civic rights in Ladakh remain to be seen. The civil society’s response and the legal recourse Wangchuk may seek will play critical roles in this evolving story.
