Fact Check: Sonam Wangchuk Did Not Support Plebiscite In Kashmir, Video Being Shared Is Clipped

Fact Check: A viral video of Sonam Wangchuk discussing the aspirations of the Kargil people for a referendum was taken out of context.

Screenshot of a viral video being shared with a false claim

Sonam Wangchuk Video Fact Check: A video is being widely shared online in which climate activist Sonam Wangchuck can be purportedly seen expressing an intent to have a plebiscite in Kashmir. In the viral video, he can be heard saying: "...Be it any area in the world it should be happy, people should be free to go wherever they want. So that’s why.. you must have heard about referendums and plebiscites. So, if everyone thinks the same, why not in Kashmir?" The video can be seen here, here, and here. 

Archived versions of this post can be seen here and here. 

Claim: In this video, climate activist Sonam Wangchuck supported a plebiscite in Kashmir.

Fact: This is a short clip from his longer interview he gave to a YouTube channel named ‘The Fourth Estate’taken and shared out of context. In the original interview, he expressed his views on a question posed by the interviewer about the people of Kargil wanting to be part of Kashmir, not Kashmir wanting to be part of Pakistan, as being portrayed in the clipped viral post. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.

To check the veracity of the viral claim, we performed an internet search using appropriate keywords, which led us to the original full-length interview of Sonam Wangchuk, from which the viral video was clipped. 

This video was uploaded to The Fourth Estate’s YouTube channel. 

During this interview, at around 14:23, journalist Ravindra Singh Sheoran gives a prelude of Wangchuk responding to the tweet of a political leader from Kargil and then proceeds to ask Wangchuck about the desire of the residents of Kargil to be a part of Kashmir.

Responding to this question, Wanchuck said “So this is what I was asking. Few people can have their views. But if the whole region or population has the same view… then we will pray and work hard to ensure it will happen. Be it any area in the world,…  it should be happy; people should be free to go wherever they want. So that’s why.. you must have heard about referendums and plebiscites. So, if everyone thinks the same, why not in Kashmir?” Here (archive link), he was not discussing destabilising Kashmir or people’s wish to be part of Pakistan. This clarifies that an edited video is being falsely shared as Sonam Wangchuk talking about a plebiscite in Kashmir.

We also found the tweet (archive link) that was brought up by Journalist Ravindra Singh in this interview.

Ladakh has been fighting for a four-point agenda for the last three years. It is sad that @INCIndia has not clarified its position on statehood for Ladakh, which is not even addressed in their manifesto. Ladakh has been voicing for statehood in all its protests.

It's necessary… pic.twitter.com/kkeAdXOtSj

— Sajjad Kargili | سجاد کرگلی (@SajjadKargili_) May 10, 2024

This was made by a political activist (read this) named “Sajjad Kargili.’ Ravindra Singh even provided a clarification (archive link) on his YouTube channel that Wangchuk was misquoted by social media users as demanding a plebiscite or referendum in Kashmir.

After the video went viral on social media, Wangchuk also clarified through a video (archive link) he posted on ‘X.’  He said that his statement was ‘only & only about Ladakh, Leh & Kargil’ 

DO THESE TROLLS HELP OR HARM THE BJP !
I have always wondered...! Do they generate goodwill or ill will for the party by showing patriots as anti-national !
Kindly share to dispel the confusion.
My statement was only & only about Ladakh... Leh & Kargil#SaveLadakh… pic.twitter.com/X7ziFqI9Lf

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) May 19, 2024

To sum up, Sonam Wangchuk has not spoken about destabilising India or about a plebiscite in Kashmir.

This story was originally published by Factly as part of the Shakti Collective. Except for the headline, excerpt, and the opening introduction para, this story has not been edited by ABPLIVE staff.