Activist Sonam Wangchuk On Indefinite Fast After Being Detained At Delhi Border During Statehood For Ladakh Demand March

New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several others launched an indefinite fast at police stations, were detained while marching to the capital to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh on Monday night.

Wangchuk was leading the march, ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra.’ The activist and others had commenced the march from Leh a month ago. He and around 120 others from Ladakh were detained on Monday night. The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to demand statehood for Ladakh.

The activist has also sought the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, early recruitment process and a public service commission for Ladakh. They are also demanding a separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil.

“We tried to convince them to go back as Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (which prohibits assembly of five or more people) is imposed in the national capital but they were adamant,” a police officer said, as quoted by Deccan Herald. The protesters, however, claimed that they had sought permission over the email by writing to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and police.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have condemned the detention, calling it “very bad” and “unacceptable”.

“The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable. Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future? Modi ji, like with the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice,” wrote Rahul Gandhi on X.