Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa arrived at the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana on Tuesday following the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk and others by the police late Monday night. Hanifa emphasized that everyone is aware of Ladakh’s ongoing discussions with the government regarding the protection of their environmental and constitutional rights.
“For the past three years, we have been peacefully fighting for our rights. We engaged in talks with the government, but those discussions halted after the elections and the formation of the new government. We set out on foot from Leh under the banner of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Apex Body to present our views to the government. After Wangchuk was detained, we marched to discuss our issues, but he and several others, including women, were arrested in various locations,” Hanifa stated.
The Ladakh MP clarified that the protestors aimed only to submit a memorandum of their demands to the government. “We urge PM Modi and Amit Shah to either provide us with a designated area in Delhi where we can conclude our march and submit our memorandum, or facilitate a conversation with our leaders to resolve this matter. We have always sacrificed for the nation and expect just a small concession for Ladakh. The entire region is currently on lockdown, and tensions could escalate if our demands are not addressed,” he added.
Meanwhile, one of the protesting members expressed their grievances, stating, “This is blatant injustice against us. We have come here after crossing six to seven borders, and we did not violate any laws. Around 300 of us have been detained without cause. We are simply protesting peacefully and seeking no more.”