Sonam Wangchuk Ends His 21-Day Hunger Strike Over Ladakh Demands
Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has ended his hunger strike, which lasted for over 21 days. The strike, which began on March 6, was held to seek statehood for Ladakh and the preservation of the Himalaya. However, he added that the fight was not over yet.
Engineer and educator Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike, surviving solely on water and salt. The hunger strike, or ‘climate fast’ as he calls it, was part of the ongoing Ladakh protests seeking its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and statehood for the current union territory.
Ending his strike, the 57-year-old Wangchuk stated that the fight for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh and the rights of its people will continue. A huge gathering in different parts of Ladakh has expressed their solidarity with Wangchuk. Women’s groups have stated that they will now begin a hunger strike.
Wangchuk, along with the other protestors, had continued sleeping outside in cold temperatures as part of the protests. According to Wangchuk, over 350 people slept despite temperatures hitting minus 10 degrees Celsius, with 5000 people in the day. “But still, not a word from the government,” he added.
On Tuesday, Wangchuk urged the central government to fulfil the demands of Ladakhis in an attempt to “remind and awaken the conscience of our Prime Minister, Mr. Modi, and our Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah,” to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Himalayan mountains and the indigenous tribal cultures of Ladakh.
21st Day OF MY #CLIMATEFAST
350 people slept in – 10 °C. 5000 people in the day here.
But still not a word from the government.
We need statesmen of integrity, farsightedness & wisdom in this country & not just shortsighted characterless politicians. And I very much hope that… pic.twitter.com/X06OmiG2ZG— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 26, 2024
Actor Prakash Raj had also visited Wangchuk to express his solidarity with him.
Previously, Wangchuk had argued that Ladakh’s demands for statehood cannot be rejected, citing the small population, as Sikkim only had around 2.5 lakh citizens when it was elevated to statehood.
Comprising the districts of Leh and Kargil, Ladakh became a Union Territory (UT) after Article 370 was repealed. The same article gave Jammu and Kashmir special status. The region has been witnessing massive protests, with leaders from Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil coming together under the Apex Body of Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.
Despite holding several meetings by the centre’s committee, nothing has happened so far. On March 4, leaders from Ladakh met with Amit Shah, who rejected the demands raised by the people. On March 6, Wangchuk began his hunger strike in Leh.
