Srinagar: Environmentalist and member of Leh Apex Body (LAB) Sonam Wangchuk On Tuesday he compared his arrest to a “non-fiction thriller” that could be turned into a film, but declared that he was ready to move beyond his jail experience for a meaningful dialogue, as shown by the recent revocation of his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) by the Centre.Three days after his release from Jodhpur jail, where he was arrested in September last year following violence during protests in Leh for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, Wangchuk called for “constructive dialogue”. This, he said, could ensure a “win-win” situation not only for them but also for Ladakh and the government.Addressing a press conference in Delhi along with his lawyer Vivek Tankha, Wangchuk said the revocation of the NSA, along with the Centre’s reference to meaningful talks, reflects what he and others have been striving for through protests for a long time. He recalled that he had earlier walked from Leh to Delhi, went on a long hunger strike and even went to jail for talks.

Wangchuk expressed hope that the Supreme Court, where his NSA detention was challenged, would record a decision despite the repeal so that it could guide future executive action, particularly on the use of such stringent laws.He stressed that the public sentiment in Ladakh is for talks. “Even in yesterday’s (Monday) rallies there was a demand for resumption of talks (for statehood and Sixth Schedule). Where do you find such a place and such people? Normally you find people leaving the negotiation table and picking up guns. Here people are appealing to the government to come to the discussion table.”Wangchuk expressed hope that he would return to Ladakh soon to consult the leaders of LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and have “positive developments to share in the coming days”. “Negotiations are a give-and-take process and both sides need to be considerate and flexible,” Wangchuk said.