Sonam Wangchuk, Apex Body Leh launch 35-day fast for statehood, 6th schedule

Kargil, Sep 10: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Apex Body Leh (ABL), an alliance of political, social and religious groups, on Wednesday began a 35-day hunger strike demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, citing stalled talks with the central government.

Addressing a press conference, which was preceded by an all-faith prayer service, co-chairman ABL Tsering Dorjey said that to carry forward their movement and to press for their demands, the Apex body Leh has decided to start a peaceful protest programme from September 10, Wednesday.

"The Leh Apex Body held an all-faith prayer service to give the message that our protest is peaceful and non-violent, and our demands are within the ambit of the Indian Constitution," he said.

He said the protest will be intensified with a peaceful start, marked by Sarvodaya Prarthana, as part of demands made within the framework of the Constitution, adding that to make the people aware of the people’s movement, a group of five volunteers from each village have joined the Apex body to support the movement.

On the occasion, Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist, educator and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, said they took the decision to go on another fast from Wednesday (September 10) as no meeting has been called by the Union Home Ministry with them over their demands in the last two months.Wangchuk said they are being forced to intensify the movement demanding statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for Ladakh, as the Centre has not addressed their demands. "The talks with the Union government stopped around two months ago. Just as the talks were going to reach a point where discussions about the main demands were going to start, the government has not called another meeting," he said.

Wangchuk said the Hill Council elections in Leh are to be held soon and reminded the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre of its promise during the last Hill Council polls to give sixth-schedule status to Ladakh. "The promise should be fulfilled before the upcoming polls," he said.

Wangchuk also said the fast would be for 35 days, and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) would be a "landmark" in their protest.

Sonam Wangchuk stated that government talks have stalled. He alleged that discussions, initially scheduled under the Sixth Schedule framework, were halted deliberately to prevent his participation. He further noted that although the Sixth Schedule was part of the LAHDC manifesto, it was never implemented. “The upcoming election is a time for accountability, and the demands must be fulfilled,” he said, reaffirming the need to resume peaceful protests.

Announcing a hunger strike, Wangchuk said, “I am on my 35th day of amaran anshan today, and we will observe October 2 as part of the movement. I will continue the strike if talks are not resumed and will call it off only when discussions restart.”