Ladakh rights movement gains momentum as hunger strike continues in Delhi
New Delhi: The indefinite hunger strike led by Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters at Ladakh Bhawan in Delhi has reached its 14th day today.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Wangchuk and his group have been protesting since October 6, advocating for the rights of the people in the Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. They are demanding a meeting with top leaders of the BJP-led Indian government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to address key issues such as Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, statehood, the establishment of a public service commission for the region, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
In a show of solidarity, leaders from the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a left-affiliated farmers’ organization, met with Wangchuk and the fasting activists. They voiced their support, saying that Ladakh is being treated like a colony, with bureaucrats imposing policies on the ecologically sensitive region from afar. The AIKS issued a statement emphasizing that this situation has sparked widespread protests, highlighting the failure of the BJP’s centralized power structure that undermines India’s federal principles. They called on people across India to support the democratic struggle of the people of Ladakh and to resist the Modi-Shah government’s threats to democracy.
As the movement for Ladakh rights gains momentum, Sonam Wangchuk expressed concern over the spread of misinformation about the protest on social media. He urged law enforcement to take action against such posts. In a statement on X, he highlighted that false information is being circulated with the intent to disrupt their movement. “It’s disheartening to see some resort to such tactics for financial gain,” he remarked, tagging a misleading post.
Wangchuk reiterated that the BJP-led government has forgotten the promises made when they came to power, including assurances of Sixth Schedule status under the Constitution, as well as rights to land and jobs for the people of Ladakh. He criticized the ruling party for reversing its commitments.
