On the birth anniversary of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) turned the spotlight on a grave irony—while leaders flocked to Rajghat to lay flowers at Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi, the world’s foremost Gandhian and social activist Sonam Wangchuk remains behind bars on a “false sedition case.” Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj, accompanied by MLA Sanjeev Jha, leader Adil Khan and Women’s Wing President Sarika Chaudhary, led the tribute at Rajghat on Thursday afternoon, observing a silent prayer for Sonam Wangchuk’s release and declaring that a man who has shown the nation the path of truth and non-violence is today being punished by those who claim to revere Gandhiji.After offering prayers, Senior AAP leader and Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj spoke to the media and said that while the entire world is remembering Mahatma Gandhi today, one of the greatest Gandhians of our times, Sonam Wangchuk, is imprisoned under false charges of sedition.
Party is ready to help in every way
Saurabh Bharadwaj said that today, even the Russian government has organized an exhibition on the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy near Gandhi Samadhi, which shows how the entire world continues to remember Gandhi. Calling it a matter of national shame, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Those who are laying flowers at Gandhi’s Samadhi are the same people who have imprisoned one of the greatest Gandhians, Sonam Wangchuk, under false allegations of sedition.”He appealed to the people of India, saying, “If there is even a trace of Gandhi in your heart, then today, from that very heart, pray for Sonam Wangchuk. The prayer is not that he should be released from jail soon, because for a true Gandhian, being in jail is not a matter of concern. The prayer is that the path of non-violence and truth that Sonam Wangchuk has shown to the people of Ladakh and the people of India, may he continue to walk that path with strength, and may God give us the courage to walk on that same path.”Sonam Bharadwaj further revealed that he had spoken to Wangchuk’s wife overthe phone on Wednesday, during her recent visit to Delhi. Coincidentally, on the very morning of Wangchuk’s arrest, Saurabh Bharadwaj had also exchanged messages with him. “The Aam Aadmi Party had assured that if he comes to Delhi, we will extend every possible help. Now, I have also spoken to his wife and assured her that the party is ready to help in every way it can,” he said.
Greatest Gandhian of our time
During the occasion, AAP MLA from Burari, Sanjeev Jha, also addressed the media. He said, “Today, the greatest Gandhian of our times, Sonam Wangchuk, is imprisoned. He is the very person who carried forward Gandhi’s ideas and methods. It is astonishing that those who put him in jail are also the ones laying flowers at Bapu’s Samadhi. They may be offering flowers to Bapu’s Samadhi, but they are jailing the very people who follow Bapu’s ideals.”Sanjeev Jha urged the people of India to pray for Wangchuk, stating, “He was carrying forward his movement through Gandhian means, but he has been imprisoned. Today is a day of prayer and inspiration—so that just as Sonam Wangchuk has fought his struggle, we too draw inspiration from him and continue our struggles in the same spirit.”
