New Delhi: Leh witnessed a complete shutdown on Wednesday (March 6) and Ladakhi innovator and activist Sonam Wangchuk announced a 21-day fast – extendable till death – after talks between representatives from the union territory and the Union government failed.
The shutdown call was given by social and religious organisations, The Telegraph reported, and a rally was held in Leh where hundreds of people from across the region gathered.
As The Wire has reported, Ladakhi groups have been making the following demands before the Union government:
1. Full statehood for Ladakh
2. Inclusion in the Sixth Schedule
3. Establishment of a Public Service Commission in Ladakh (for secure jobs)
4. Two MPs for Ladakh.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Wangchuk said, “People of Ladakh are hurt due to the unkept promise. To remind the government of its promise, I have decided to go on fast unto death.”
#SAVELADAKH #SAVEHIMALAYAS
Sonam Wangchuk appeals to the world to live simply,
starts #ClimateFast of 21 days (extendable till death)
Please watch full video in English here:https://t.co/XHkcIdQQ7b#ILiveSimply #MissionLiFE #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/KQi5EMro9X— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 6, 2024
Wangchuk said he was using 21 days as a cycle because that was the longest fast Mahatma Gandhi had undertaken during the freedom struggle.
On March 4, a delegation from Ladakh had met Union home ministry officials. After the meeting, the delegation said the ministry was unwilling to meet their demands. The ministry, however, claimed that ‘significant progress’ had been made.
“Local residents have very genuine demands which should be fulfilled by the Central Government. It is unfortunate that the government is not ready to accept these demands,” former Nubra MLA Delden Namgial said at the Leh rally, according to The Telegraph.
Ladakh has been witnessing frequent protests and shutdowns as they push for these demands. While initially the region was not averse to the Union government’s August 5, 2019 decision to separate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, civil society groups have now been demanding safeguards for employment and the protection of local cultures.
