NEW DELHI: As the Delhi police detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other supporters at Singhu border, Rahul Gandhi condemned the act calling it “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.
“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… Hai Ram!” the climate activist posted on X.
Wangchuk and a group of volunteers began a foot march from Leh to New Delhi to encourage the government to reopen dialogue with Ladakh’s leadership about their demands. A major demand is for Ladakh to be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which would provide local populations with law-making powers to safeguard their land and cultural identity.
Wangchuk and approximately 75 volunteers started their march on September 1. Earlier, he emphasized that their mission is to remind the government to fulfill a promise made five years ago.
Wangchuk has been a strong advocate for statehood for Ladakh, calling for its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which provides special rights to tribal communities, as well as enhanced ecological protections for the region.
Previously, he undertook a nine-day fast in Leh to highlight the need for safeguarding Ladakh’s delicate mountain ecology and supporting its indigenous people.