Categories
Politics Rights

A victory for Ladakh’s voices: Sonam Wangchuk and Ladakhi activists break 16-day fast as union government agrees to renew talks on demands

From Ladakh to Bengaluru, support for Wangchuk’s fast and the call for the sixth schedule in Ladakh had grown as activists, leaders, and citizens unite to safeguard the region’s culture and environment.

New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ends his fast after the Union Home Ministry gave its assurance that next meeting with Ladakh groups will be held on December 3, at Ladakh Bhawan, in New Delhi, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Wangchuk with his supporters was staging a fast unto death demanding the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution. (PTI Photo)

After a determined 16-day fast, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and a group of around 20 Ladakhis ended their protest on October 21, 2024, at Ladakh Bhawan in New Delhi. Their fast, which began on October 5 and saw them survive only on water and salt, was undertaken to pressure the Union government into resuming talks regarding Ladakh’s constitutional and developmental demands. These include the implementation of the sixth schedule to grant the Union Territory greater autonomy and protection for its people and environment.

The fast concluded after Union Home Ministry officials, led by Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, delivered a letter to Wangchuk. This letter confirmed that the high-powered committee (HPC) on Ladakh, headed by Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, would meet on December 3, 2024, to restart talks. Lokhande personally handed Wangchuk a glass of juice to mark the end of the fast. Wangchuk, alongside other Ladakhi activists, accepted the gesture, signalling the temporary resolution of their immediate demand for the resumption of dialogue.

(Details of Sonam Wangchuk’s fast may be read here, here and here) 

A renewed hope for meaningful dialogue

Wangchuk, addressing the press through a live stream on his YouTube channel, expressed cautious optimism. “Our main appeal has been resolved,” he said, referring to the renewal of talks that had been stalled for months. “I hope both sides engage in these discussions with solidarity and good faith, aiming for outcomes that benefit not just Ladakh but the entire nation.”

Other leaders from the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who had been fasting alongside Wangchuk, shared his sentiment. Sajjad Kargili, a member of the KDA and the 17-member HPC, noted that their primary demand was the resumption of meaningful talks on Ladakh’s development. “We hope the leadership will hold crucial discussions on our four demands. The date has been set, and we look forward to participating in these talks,” Kargili said.

Leaders like Tsering Dorjay Lakruk, co-chairman of LAB, echoed these hopes, expressing gratitude to those who supported their movement. “It was a true display of unity in diversity in India,” Wangchuk added, acknowledging the solidarity shown by students, NGOs, and citizens across the country. The fast, though arduous, symbolised a collective desire for Ladakh’s future to be shaped by its people.

Looking forward, cautiously optimistic

Though relieved that their primary demand had been met, the Ladakhi leaders made it clear that the journey is far from over. Chering Dorjay Lakruk, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), emphasised that while talks would resume, their demands were yet to be fully addressed. “We hope that these talks will lead to a meaningful solution,” he said, stressing the importance of sustained and sincere dialogue with the Union government.

Ladakh’s MP Mohmad Haneefa also voiced his hope that the government would take their concerns seriously and work towards a lasting resolution. The fast, he noted, had become necessary after months of silence from the government following the Lok Sabha elections.

As the Ladakhi delegation prepares to return home, Wangchuk expressed hope that such drastic measures would not be required again. “I hope this is the last time we need to fast for our demands,” he said. Though they leave with their “main appeal fulfilled,” the Ladakhi people remain cautious, hoping that the upcoming talks in December will bring tangible outcomes for Ladakh and the preservation of its fragile environment.

Widespread solidarity for Sonam Wangchuk’s cause

On October 20, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk received a powerful show of support when Jagadguru Shankaracharya visited his protest site at Martyrs Park in Leh. The visit marked the 15th day of Wangchuk’s indefinite fast, which he had undertaken along with 20 fellow Ladakhis to press for the implementation of the sixth schedule in Ladakh. Wangchuk shared his gratitude via social media, stating, “From villages bordering China and Pakistan to the city of Leh, people observed a fast in solidarity. In Delhi, hundreds came to join us, only to be forcibly detained and bundled into buses.” The Shankaracharya’s visit further underscored the growing national support for Ladakh’s struggle.

Two days earlier, on October 18, the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) had also expressed solidarity with the Ladakhi people’s demand to be included in the sixth schedule of the Constitution. The NAPM, which represents progressive organisations and movements across India, urged the Union government to fulfil its promise of meaningful dialogue with Ladakhi leaders. The alliance warned that the ecological and cultural fabric of the Himalayas is at risk due to “destructive development.” In a statement, NAPM expressed shock that Wangchuk and his supporters had been forced to launch another indefinite fast after previous assurances from the government were left unfulfilled.

NAPM activists, including prominent figures like Prafulla Samantara—who led a historic 12-year legal battle to protect Indigenous land rights—stood in solidarity with the Ladakhi cause. Through a video message, Samantara and other activists vowed to fast from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in support of Wangchuk.

Embed video shared by ma’am on whatsapp

Activists such as Medha Patkar, Arundhati Dhuru, Suniti S R, Neelam Ahluwalia, and others also lent their voices to the movement, calling on Indian citizens to rally behind Ladakh’s demands. NAPM emphasised the need for the government to engage in peaceful dialogue with Ladakh’s people, respecting their constitutional rights and their call to preserve both Ladakh’s natural beauty and its Indigenous communities.

In addition to national organisations, regional groups have also shown their support. On October 14, Friends of Ladakh-Bengaluru organised a one-day fast at Freedom Park to back Wangchuk’s mission. The group echoed his call for Ladakh to be included in the sixth schedule, which would grant Ladakhis greater control over their resources and ensure sustainable development. This wasn’t the first time Wangchuk had taken such a stand—in March, he completed a 21-day climate fast in Ladakh to remind the Union government of its promise to protect the region’s fragile ecosystem and empower its people.

 

Related:

Delhi Chalo padyatra: Sonam Wangchuk begins indefinite fast at Ladakh Bhawan

Why is Ladakh Protesting?

Fulfill Promises Made To People Of Ladakh: Sonam Wangchuk In Fresh Appeal To Modi

 

Exit mobile version