Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk warned of carrying out a hunger strike or a foot march if the leaders detained in Delhi on Saturday are not released by tomorrow. Several political leaders, activists and protesters, including Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee were detained by Delhi Police as they tried to march to the Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk addresses the press conference at Press Club of India, in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. (Hindustan Times)
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In a video message released on his social media handles, the activist claimed that the country was in a state of "undeclared emergency".
Deep Dive
What did Sonam Wangchuk say he would do if the detained leaders were not released?
Wangchuk said he would consider an anshan (hunger strike) or a padyatra (foot march) if the leaders detained in Delhi were not released by Sunday.
Why was Sonam Wangchuk unable to attend the CJP protest in Delhi?
He said he was occupied with preparations for winter in Ladakh, including work on artificial glaciers for water security and experiments related to glacial lake flood security.
Why were protesters and political leaders detained during the Delhi march?
They were trying to march to Jantar Mantar to protest alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s functioning. The CJP also called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision.
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"Yesterday when I posted a message appealing for unity and peace in today's protest, I had never imagined that the biggest democracy in the world would be under an undeclared EMERGENCY," he wrote.
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Wangchuk, who extended his support to the anti-CEC protest, was unable to physically take part in the agitation in Delhi. "I was happy there were so many leaders to lead the movement, but I now learn that they have all been arrested," he said.
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Wangchuk, who extended his support to the anti-CEC protest, was unable to physically take part in the agitation in Delhi. "I was happy there were so many leaders to lead the movement, but I now learn that they have all been arrested," he said.
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Wangchuk expressed hopes that those arrested will be released soon. The activist warned that he will be "compelled to consider an Anshan Fast or Padyatra March" if the detained leaders are not released by Sunday.
Wangchuk on Friday said that he won't be participating in the CJP's Jantar Mantar protest on October 10, citing upcoming winter preparation. The activist listed the tasks at hand, which included “making artificial glaciers for water security and experiments for GLOF or glacial lake flood security and to diffuse the 200+ ticking water bombs in high Himalayas”.
4 former CMs detained in Delhi
Several INDIA bloc leaders, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar were detained by Delhi Police as they attempted to join the protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
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The detentions took place at multiple locations across the capital amid heavy security, barricades and restrictions on movement in view of the demonstration called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Others detained included CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, veteran Left leader Brinda Karat, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Yogendra Yadav and lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
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Home/India News/'Padyatra or anshan': Sonam Wangchuk's warning if leaders detained in Delhi not released by tomorrow
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