Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk expressed his frustration on Monday regarding the lack of action following assurances from the Home Ministry for a meeting with leaders. Wangchuk, who has traveled on foot from Leh, is seeking guarantees from officials in the capital. He stated, “The Home Ministry assured us that a meeting with the leaders would be arranged, but nothing has happened yet. We have come on foot from Leh and are hoping for some assurances from our leaders.”
Wangchuk is currently on a hunger strike, asserting, “In the world’s largest democracy, the least that should happen is that I get to meet the leaders.” He voiced concerns about environmental issues, highlighting the accelerated melting of glaciers and global warming due to lifestyles in urban centers. “The lifestyles in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Paris, and London are contributing to the melting of our glaciers and global warming,” he noted. He also criticized the government’s plans for power plants in the Himalayas, claiming, “While people will get power, the lives of herdsmen will be ruined.”
Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday to demand statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which aims to provide constitutional protections for the region. He and his supporters advocate for these safeguards to protect their land and cultural identity, a stance supported by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). This comes after a 1,000 km march from Leh that began on September 1, as well as earlier protests that were met with police detainment.
The Delhi Police denied Wangchuk permission to hold the hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, citing procedural requirements that were not met, forcing him to protest at Ladakh Bhawan instead. His previous hunger strike lasted 21 days, during which he demanded similar protections for Ladakh and expressed deep concerns about its fragile ecology.
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As the situation unfolds, it’s worth noting that the Modi government remains largely silent on these issues, and many activists fear that without adequate attention, Ladakh’s unique environment and culture could be further jeopardised.
