Leh: Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, an innovator and scientist, has started Day 13 of his Ladakh Climate Fast. The 21-day fast aims to raise awareness about the effects of climate change and the return of statehood for Ladakh. On social media, the activist noted that the protest intends to remind the “Indian Government of their promises to safeguard Ladakh’s environment and tribal indigenous culture”
Why is Sonam Wangchuk protesting?
Speaking from Leh earlier this month, he made two appeals in his address ahead of the protest: an appeal to all people to live simpler lives, and a direct appeal to the government to keep its promise to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and grant the region statehood.
BEGINNING OF DAY 13 OF MY #CLIMATEFAST
250 people slept hungy in – 12 °C to remind the Indian Government of their promises to safegurad Ladakh’s environment and tribal indigenous culture.
First of all many heartfelt thanks to all who participated in yesterday’s protests in… pic.twitter.com/jU1vZmbCWP— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 18, 2024
“After numerous discussions, the government has backtracked on its pledges and is proposing a considerably reduced version of what is already in the Constitution for this specific case. So what happened, and why did they alter their minds?,” Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk said, noting that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government had emphasized Ladakh’s protection under the Sixth Schedule in their manifestos for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2020 Ladakh Hill Council elections.
The protest comes after Ladakhi leaders met with the Centre to discuss in detail the demands for Ladakh’s statehood, inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and the establishment of an exclusive public service commission for the high-altitude region. The discussions, however, remained inconclusive.
While the cause for the government’s U-turn is unknown, Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk stated that his goal was to make the views of Ladakhi people heard “so that the pressure of the industrial and mining lobbies is neutralised and the government can take a fair decision.”
The protest began on March 6, when Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk announced that he would fast till death in 21-day intervals. The activist chose 21 days since it was the longest fast kept by Mahatma Gandhi during the independence movement, who is acknowledged as the “father of the nation”.
“I want to follow Mahatma Gandhi’s peaceful path, in which we inflict pain on ourselves but not on others.” We put agony on ourselves so that our government and policymakers recognize our pain and act in time, declared Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk on March 6
“Our planet is facing enormous problems, environmental challenges such as global warming, climate Change is a challenge, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau,” he noted. Wangchuk’s climate fast was joined by hundreds of individuals, including environmentalists from Ladakh, during the next two weeks. On Day 13 of the Climate Fast, Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk shared that 250 people slept hungry in 12 hours.
degree Celsius heat to remind the administration of its commitment to protecting the union territory.
“However, after four years of deliberation, on March 4, the government immediately refused to keep its pledges. This is a complete breach of trust in leaders, governments, and elections.
Why is Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk asking for sechdule 6 statehood?
In addition to conserving Ladakh’s climate and culture, the people have demanded the return of statehood for the union region.
“This government likes to call India the Mother of Democracy, but if India denies democratic rights to the people of Ladakh and continues to control it through bureaucrats in New Delhi, it could only be called the Stepmother of Democracy in Ladakh,” added the activist.
Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 21-day fast for climate justice and statehood has also drawn support from Telangana residents.
Following the repeal of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were divided into two union territories. Ladakh was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir prior to its breakup.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Wangchuk and the people of Ladakh have called for a similar move for the Himalayan area. This action would give Ladakh more political autonomy and decision-making powers.
Ladakh is covered by the Indian Constitution’s sixth schedule, which promises to safeguard the indigenous population and allows for the formation of independent development councils that can draft legislation on land, public health, and agriculture. However, this plan fails to provide the state of Ladakh with autonomous district and regional councils.
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Wangchuk and fellow protestors have sought the protection of the land from climate change and the restoration of “basic democracy for the people of Ladakh”.