Environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk detained at Delhi border

Kargil, Oct 1: Noted environmental activist from Ladakh Sonam Wangchuk , who was leading a group of over 100 activists on “ Delhi Chalo Padyatra,” has been detained by the Delhi police at Singhu border today.

The Delhi police Monday detained the volunteers from Ladakh, including Wangchuk at the Singhu border, in line with prohibitory orders imposed in the national capital till October 6. The foot march started from Leh on September 1. It was scheduled to end at Rajghat on Gandhi Jayanti, to mark the birth anniversary of the father of the nation, on October 2. The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB). LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been leading an agitation to demand statehood for Ladakh. They also seek Ladakh's inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, along with a public service commission for Ladakh.

Other demands include separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts. The march is to urge the Centre to resume the stalled dialogue with the leadership of Ladakh on their four-point agenda — for statehood, the extension of the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, an early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

While flagging off the march in September, Wangchuk had expressed hope that the government will greet them with good news on reaching Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti. While confirming his detention Sonam Wangchuk said that he along with other activists were detained by Delhi police at Delhi border. “ I am being detained... along with 150 padyatris at Delhi Border, by a police force of hundreds, some say 1,000. Many elderly men & women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans... Our fate is unknown. We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu's Samadhi... in the largest democracy in the world, the mother of democracy...," the climate activist posted on X.

Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi called the detention of Sonam Wangchuk and his associates as unacceptable. “ The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable. Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future? Modi ji, like with the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice," he said in a post on X. Member of Parliament Ladakh Mohd Haneefa Jan who also joined the volunteers and activists from Kargil and Singhu border termed the detention as unfortunate.

“ It is with deep regret to inform that all Padyatris, led by @Wangchuk66, have been detained by the @DelhiPolice at the Delhi border. It is deeply unfortunate that we have been denied the right to conduct a peaceful walk in the capital and were stopped at the border. I urge the authorities not to corner the people by denying their fundamental right to protest, especially after taking so much from the people of Ladakh— employment opportunities, land rights, political representation, and more” the Ladakh MP posted on X. Social-

Political activist and Kargil Democratic Alliance member Sajad Hussain Kargili also criticised the decision to disallow the Padyatra by detaining the noted environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk. “ We have been detained by the @DelhiPolice last night and taken us at Arya Samaj Mandir, Narela where we have now decided to go on hunger strike. I urge the government not to push the people of #Ladakh to the wall. We are frontline warriors, not traitors. We are simply demanding the rights you have taken from us — our statehood, safeguards, and employment. Now, even our right to protest is being stripped away,” Kargili said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, protests were held in Leh while as a complete shutdown was observed in Kargil against the detention of Sonam Wangchuk and disallowing the Delhi Chalo Padyatra. Large number of people held protest demonstration in Leh while on the call of KDA a shutdown was observed in Kargil against the action. The Delhi Police however has said that the decision to detain Sonam Wagchuk and several others followed by a prohibitory order issued by the Delhi Police Commisioner Sanjay Arora on Monday evening.

The order stated that under section 163 of the BNSS, no assembly of more than five people, dharnas or display of placards will be allowed near any of Delhi’s borders and the districts of New Delhi, North Delhi and Central Delhi from September 30 to October 6. The reasons cited in the order were of communal atmosphere, Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) Standing Committee elections, the ongoing Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana, and the VVIP movement expected during Gandhi Jayanti. Notably, A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and various others from Ladakh who have been detained at Singhu Border while marching towards the national capital to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.

The petition was mentioned today by Advocate Vikram Hegde before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. The matter is likely to be heard on October 3. The petition seeks permission to allow the group of individuals, including senior citizens, led by Wangchuk, to enter the national capital for raising their demands peacefully. The plea also seeks setting aside of the prohibitory order passed by the Delhi Police on September 30 prohibiting assembly of five or more unauthorized persons and dharnas in any public area from September 30 to October 5. The petition further seeks permission for the individuals to assemble peacefully at a designated area.