ALL ABOUT SONAM WANGCHUK AND HIS HUNGER STRIKE FOR LADAKH.

Sonam Wangchuk, a renowned educator, innovator and environmentalist from Ladakh started a 21-day Climate Fast in Leh on 6th March. The aim of this hunger strike in Leh was to urgently highlight the pressing issue of climate change and its ill effects in Ladakh.

The movement aims to remind the government to protect Ladakh’s environment and its rich tribal culture. Amidst this ulterior motive of environmental concern, his fast also highlights the broader demands of the Ladakhis for statehood and constitutional safeguards under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. It aims to preserve their people, their land, jobs, and identities following Ladakh’s transition to a Union Territory.

What is the strike’s background?

After article 370 got repealed in 2019, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was enacted, Ladakh was recognised as a separate Union Territory but “without legislature” while other Union Territories like New Delhi and Pondicherry have their own Legislative Assemblies. The 6th schedule says that it will grant the state a power to make laws on subjects like agriculture, forest management, administration of villages and towns, marriage, divorce and social customs.

The KDA (Kargil Democratic Alliance), yesterday called for a half-day general strike for today, 20th March, in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk. In the sub-zero temperatures, Sonam Wangchuk began his ‘climate fast’ after talks between the KDA and joint representatives of Apex body which then headed an agitation in support of four-point demands. Sonam Wangchuk even said that they are planning a border march as well, in order to highlight the ground reality to the whole world.

What are Sonam Wangchuk’s demand?

Sonam Wangchuk, through this hunger strike is pushing for four key demands, the most important being statehood and implementation of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution in Ladakh. The 6th Schedule also provides a nominal autonomy for the country’s tribal areas. Wangchuk also calls for a separate Lok Sabha seat for Leh and Kargil districts alongside a recruitment process and a separate Public Service Commission. He also feels that the UT tag has made Ladakh vulnerable to industrial exploitation which is devastating the fragile ecosystem of the tourist attraction of the Himalayan region.

After 4 years of delaying decisions the centre on 4th March declined to fullfil their promises according to Sonam which has breached the trust of citizens in the government. While Jammu and Kashmir is about to get full democracy soon after the assembly elections, Ladakh will still be left under the rule of a bureaucracy controlled from Centre and won’t be free from external pressure.

Sonam Wangchuk said that the Indian government likes to call India as the ‘Mother of Democracy’, however, in reality if the country denies basic democratic rights to its citizens and continues to keep Ladakh under the control of the Centre, then it is nothing but a stepmother of democracy with reference to Ladakh. Through his now 15 days of fast completion, he pleads for support from the public at large for their movement.