New Delhi. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Monday that she and her supporters will remain at Ladakh Bhawan until authorities tell when they can meet the country’s top leadership. Wangchuk said that the protesters are demanding the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and this is not unusual. He said that he has come here to remind the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the promise it had made during the elections.
At present the Sixth Schedule deals with the administration of the tribal areas of the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram as “Autonomous Districts and Autonomous Regions”. Wangchuk and his supporters started their indefinite fast at Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday after not getting permission to protest at Jantar Mantar.
Wangchuk told PTI, “We will sit here until we get an answer as to when we will be able to meet our leaders.” We have traveled on foot for 30-32 days, we deserve at least a meeting.” The climate activist said the people of Ladakh had welcomed the government’s decision to make it a Union Territory as they were promised inclusion in the Assembly and the Sixth Schedule.
He said, “We are not making any unusual demands, we have come here to remind the BJP of the promises made in its manifesto.” Wangchuk and his supporters walked from Leh to Delhi with their demands and on September 30, they were detained at the Singhu border of the capital. ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’ is being led by Leh Apex Body (LAB).
The protesters were released by Delhi Police on the night of October 2. On Sunday, Wangchuk came out of Ladakh Bhawan at around 4 pm and announced that he was going on a fast. Heavy security arrangements were made at Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday and entry was restricted. However, on Monday, the additional security force was withdrawn and Wangchuk and others were allowed to meet visitors at the gate. The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner said that the protesters spent the night in the open.
Wangchuk said, “It was not a comfortable situation, we were almost on the road and mosquitoes were biting. Now it is summer and these are Ladakhi people who are used to sub-zero temperatures… There are elderly people here too, but until our demands are met, we will not leave from here.” Earlier, a member of LAB told ‘PTI-Bhasha’ that the authorities have not yet allowed the protesters to go to any alternative site to continue their agitation, hence the fast will continue at Ladakh Bhawan.
Apart from including Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the protesters are also demanding a Public Service Commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.