Sonam Wangchuk, Leh Apex Body Launch 35-Day Fast in Leh, Renew Call for Ladakh’s Statehood and Sixth Schedule Protection
NEW DELHI, Sept 10: Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, along with the Leh Apex Body (LAB), has begun a 35-day fast in Leh, pressing for Ladakh’s long-standing demands of statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The protest was formally launched on Wednesday following an all-faith prayer service, which organizers said symbolized their commitment to peace, unity, and non-violence. Addressing the media, Wangchuk, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee known globally for his environmental activism, said the decision to intensify the agitation came after repeated attempts to engage with the Union government yielded no results.
“The talks with the Union government came to a halt about two months ago, just when discussions were nearing the stage where the core demands were to be addressed. No further meeting has been called since then. This silence has left us with no option but to resume and strengthen our movement,” Wangchuk said.
The demands of the LAB and its allied groups have centered around constitutional safeguards for Ladakh’s fragile environment, unique culture, and tribal communities. They argue that inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, which provides special protection for tribal-dominated regions, is essential to safeguard Ladakh’s ecology and identity amid growing industrial and developmental pressures.
Wangchuk reminded the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of its promise during the previous Hill Council elections to grant Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh. With fresh Hill Council elections in Leh approaching, he said it was crucial for the government to honor that commitment. “The promise should be fulfilled before the upcoming polls. People’s faith in democratic processes depends on governments standing by their word,” he added.
The activist further announced that the protest fast would run for 35 days, culminating in a landmark moment on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. “We want to remind the government and the people that our protest is peaceful, Gandhian, and strictly within the framework of the Constitution. Our faith in non-violence is our strength,” Wangchuk emphasized.
The Leh Apex Body, which has been spearheading the demand for Ladakh’s political and constitutional safeguards since the region’s bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, reiterated that statehood was necessary to ensure administrative autonomy and responsive governance for the Union Territory.
