NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, along with his supporters, remains firm at Ladakh Bhawan, awaiting confirmation from the authorities on when they will meet with the country’s top leadership. Wangchuk, who began an indefinite fast on Sunday, emphasized that their demands for Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution are not unreasonable, but rather a reminder of the BJP’s earlier poll promises.
The Sixth Schedule provides for the administration of tribal areas with autonomy in states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Wangchuk and his supporters argue that Ladakh, being a region with a predominantly tribal population, deserves similar protections and governance structures. “We’re here to remind the BJP of the commitments made in their manifestos. We walked for over 30 days to make our voice heard; a meeting with the leadership is the least we deserve,” Wangchuk stated.
The activist’s ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra,’ spearheaded by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), saw Wangchuk and other demonstrators marching from Leh to Delhi to press their demands. They were briefly detained by Delhi Police at the Singhu border on September 30 but were released on the night of October 2. On Monday, the protesters, who also demand a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts, continued their sit-in at Ladakh Bhawan.
Despite initial heavy security and restricted access at the site, Wangchuk and his supporters were allowed to meet visitors at the gate on Monday. The climate activist, who received the Ramon Magsaysay award for his environmental efforts, shared that the night was challenging. “It wasn’t comfortable; we had to sleep almost on the road, facing mosquitoes and heat. These are Ladakhi people used to freezing temperatures, and there are elderly among us. But we are committed to staying here until our demands are met,” he asserted.
The protesters’ indefinite fast, initially planned to be relocated, continues at Ladakh Bhawan as authorities have not permitted a move to an alternate site. Wangchuk reiterated the importance of securing Ladakh’s rights and protections under the Sixth Schedule, pointing out the unfulfilled promise of a legislature for the region when it was granted Union Territory status.