New Delhi: Ladakhi innovator and activist on Tuesday (March 26) ended his 21-day “climate fast”, passing the baton on to other groups for a relay fast that will continue until citizens’ groups feel their demands have been met.
In a video message at the end of his fast, Wangchuk said, “Today is an important day. The first phase has ended but the hunger strike has not come to a close. After me, women will begin a 10-day fast tomorrow. This will be followed by youth, Buddhist monks. Then, it could be women or I could come back. This cycle will go on. As many as 6,000 people, from all religions, joined me in a one-day fast.”
“We are trying to remind and awaken the conscience of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to safeguard the fragile ecosystems of the Himalayan mountains of Ladakh and the unique indigenous tribal cultures that thrive here. We don’t want to think of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as just politicians. We would rather like to think of them as statesman but for that they will have to show some character and far-sightedness,” he continued.
END 21st Day OF MY #CLIMATEFAST
I’ll be back…
7000 people gathered today.
It was the end of the 1st leg of my fast. Btw 21 days was the longest fast Gandhi ji kept.
From tomorrow women’s groups of Ladakh will take it forward with a 10 Days fast, then the youth, then the… pic.twitter.com/pozNiuPvyS— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 26, 2024
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Tensions have simmering in the strategic region bordering China and Pakistan after the year-long talks broke down in third round earlier this month. A Union home ministry committee refused to concede to the demands of constitutional safeguards for Ladakh after it was downgraded into a union territory in 2019.
Civil society groups in Ladakh have been demanding the grant of statehood, inclusion of Ladakh in Sixth Schedule, a job reservation policy in the administration for locals of Ladakh and a parliamentary seat each for the Leh and Kargil districts.
Under Article 244, the Sixth Schedule provides constitutional safeguards to tribal populations and also allows them to set up autonomous development councils to frame laws on land, public health, and agriculture.
Speaking to The Wire on the eight day of his fast, Wangchuk had explained the Sixth Schedule demand by saying, “Because this [schedule] is tailor-made for hilly regions with distinct indigenous tribal communities. And normally, 50% tribal population is enough to qualify for that, but Ladakh has 97%. So we were hands-down qualified for that.”
“And we had no doubt that the government that was kind enough to make Ladakh a UT would also give us that. It was a natural no-brainer.” But despite repeated promises and assurances, this has not happened – and now the government has reportedly said it will not happen. Ladakhi people, therefore, “are very hurt” and our “only resort” is to start a movement, Wangchuk said.
