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

LEH: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is leading a hunger strike for 21-days to demand statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, on Tuesday made a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil promises made to the people.

In video messages shared on X, a frail-looking Wangchuk, whose ‘climate fast’ entered the 21st day on Tuesday, called on the people of Ladakh to use their franchise “very carefully” this time in the interest of the nation.

A renowned education reformist and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, Wangchuk has been on ‘climate fast’ in sub-zero temperatures since March 6, a day after talks between the representatives of Leh-based Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who are jointly spearheading the agitation to demand statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, and the central government ended in a deadlock.

The Sixth Schedule contains provisions related to the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through autonomous district councils.

The ‘climate fast’ ended Tuesday as Leh-based Apex Body and KDA will announce the future course of action on Wednesday.

But, “Following the conclusion of Sonam Wangchuk’s 21-day fast, now the Women representatives from Buddhist, Muslim (Shia, Sunni) and Christian organizations are persisting with their hunger strike, advocating for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh,” a KDA member and political activist from Kargil, Sajjad Hussain Kargili announced on X.

Reminding the prime minister of the promises made by the BJP in its election manifestoes, Wangchuk said Modi is a devotee of Lord Ram and should follow his teaching of ‘pran jaye par vachan na jaye’ (one may lose their life, but must not break their promise).

“While India is the mother of democracy, we citizens have a very special power. We are the kingmakers, we can compel a government to change their ways or change the government if that doesn’t work. Let us remember to use our ballot power very carefully this time in the interest of the nation,” said Wangchuk, whose life inspired Aamir Khan’s character Rancho in Bollywood blockbuster “3 Idiots”.

Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. Ladakh will go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.

Over the past 20 days, Wangchuk said, around 60,000 of Ladakh’s 3 lakh residents have participated in the hunger strike demonstrating their pain but “no word came from this government”.

“We are trying to remind and awaken the consciousness of our Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to safeguard the fragile ecosystem of Himalayan mountains in Ladakh and the unique indigenous tribal cultures that thrive here.

“We do not think of Modi and Amit (Shah) as just politicians, we would rather like to think of them as statesmen and for that they will have to show some character and some farsightedness,” the climate activist said.

Concern for Life and Work of Sonam Wangchuk

Appeal by ten individuals from the Himalaya

Meanwhile, ten concerned individuals from the Himalayan region across national boundaries have expressed their fears about the life of Sonam Wangchuk and called for heeding his calls for the rights of the people in Ladakh.

Following is the text of the statement issued by the ten concerned individuals:

“We, ten concerned individuals from the Himalayan region across national boundaries, are fearful for the life of Sonam Wangchuk, the educator and environmentalist who has been a steadfast voice for social justice and ecological sanity. Mr. Wangchuk has completed 21 days of protest fast, demanding political rights for his home region of Ladakh and nature-friendly approaches to development in the Himalaya and elsewhere. Taking only salt and water, Mr. Wangchuk has become increasingly frail over the course of his hunger strike. We need his continued presence and leadership in the fight for the people and the planet. We call on the Government of India to heed his calls.”

Signatories: Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Bharat Bhushan, Kanak Mani Dixit, Ramachandra Guha, Sanjoy Hazarika, Pervez Hoodbhoy, NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati, Mrinal Pandey, Shekhar Pathak, Siddiq Wahid.

26 March 2024. Issued in Kathmandu. Contact: Kanak Mani Dixit

Earlier, A three-day hunger strike by Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in support of their four-point demands, including statehood and Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, commenced here on Sunday with people from different walks of life joining the symbolic protest against the Central government.

Separately, the hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Leh entered 19th day as he expressed his displeasure over “breach of trust” from the Union home ministry amid deadlock over the talks between representatives of Leh-based Apex Body and the government.

KDA and Leh-based Apex Body, both separate groupings of various political, social and religious organisations representing the two districts, are jointly spearheading the agitation in support of their demands which also included job reservation for local youth and one Rajya Sabha seat. The agitation was launched shortly after Ladakh was granted UT status without assembly in August 2019.

The entire leadership of KDA along with over 200 volunteers assembled at Hussaini park Sunday morning and started the three-day hunger strike in solidarity with Wangchuk who has been on ‘climate fast’ in Leh since March 6 in support of the demands.

Amid chanting of slogans like “hollow UT, bureaucracy not acceptable and restore democracy in Ladakh”, people from different walks of life including chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Jaffar Akhoon attended the hunger strike which was among others attended by co-chairmen of KDA Qamar Ali Akhoon and Asgar Ali Karbalai.

“The hunger strike is part of the ongoing joint agitation by KDA and Apex body to press for our four-point demands. Unfortunately after five rounds of talks with the home ministry, the home minister (Amit Shah) on March 4 told us that we will be given some constitutional safeguards but not the statehood and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” Karbalai said.

He said the KDA and the Apex Body unanimously decided to intensify the agitation with the start of a hunger strike by Wangchuk in Leh.

The hunger strikes in Leh and Kargil will end on March 26 evening and the people are requested to assemble in the district towns, where the concerned leadership will announce the future course of action, Karbalai said.
Prominent KDA leader Sajjad Kargili said the people of Ladakh will continue their struggle in a “democratic and peaceful manner”

“We request the government to open its heart and understand the concerns of the people of Ladakh,” he said.
In Leh, Wangchuk said 5,000 people joined him in sub-zero temperatures on the start of the 19th day of his ‘climate fast.

“I’m feeling (a) bit better today. But deeply disturbed at the breach of trust that Ladakh witnessed from the Home Ministry. This disrespect for written manifestos will set the worst precedence in the nation,” he wrote on X.
He said India already ranks at a dismal 93rd position in honesty and interestingly the countries that are at the top of the transparency ranking are also at the top of the per capita income ranking.

“… What does this imply! Where are our politicians leading us to? Hope you are joining Friends of Ladakh events in your city on Sunday tomorrow,” he said.

Courtesy: The Kashmir Times