• Source:JND
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Sonam Wangchuk, the well-known education reformist, has been on a hunger strike in Leh since March 6, demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under the sixth schedule for the Union Territory of Ladakh. On Wednesday, he said that they are planning a border march to highlight the “ground reality” to the outside world.

Sonam has been on a ‘climate fast’ since March 6, a day after talks between the representatives of the Kargil Democratic Alliance and the Central government hit a deadlock. He posted on X on day 14 of his fast and said that 250 people slept hungry at minus 12 degrees Celsius to safeguard Ladakh's land, environment, and tribal indigenous culture. 

“Our nomads are losing prime pasture land to huge Indian industrial plants to the south & Chinese encroachment to the north. To show the ground reality we're planning a Border March of 10,000 Ladakhi shepherds & farmers soon,” he announced.

In 2019, with the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were split into two union territories. The Supreme Court last year ordered the central government to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and hold elections to ensure the same by September 30, 2024.

KDA Calls For Half-Day Strike

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had given a call for a half-day strike on Wednesday. The call was given in solidarity with the education reformist Sonam Wangchuk.

Demands Of Sonam Wangchuk

Sonam Wangchuk has been protesting for four key demands. Among them are statehood and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in the region. This schedule guarantees protections for land and nominal autonomy for the country’s tribal areas. 

Sonam also seeks separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts. He also demands a recruitment process and a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh. 

According to the Hindustan Times, Sonam claims that the tag of union territory has made Ladakh vulnerable to industrial exploitation, which could devastate the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayan region.

He has also alleged that the Centre, after a delay of four years, has declined to fulfil the promises.

“After four years of dilly dallying tactics, the Centre, finally on March 4, straightaway declined to fulfil the promises. This is a total breach of trust and faith in leaders, governments and elections and if this continues it will set a very bad precedent for all elections and governments to come,” Wangchuk said, as quoted by the Hindustan Times.