Sonam Wangchuk, others launch indefinite fast in police stations; Oppn slams govt

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several others who were detained at the Delhi border while marching to the capital to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh on Tuesday (October 1) launched an indefinite fast at police stations where they have been kept.

Wangchuk was leading the march, “Delhi Chalo Padyatra”, which began from Leh a month ago. He and around 120 others from Ladakh were detained on Monday night (September 30).

The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been spearheading an agitation for the past four years to demand statehood for Ladakh, seek its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

Also Read: Detained on ‘peaceful march to Bapu’s samadhi’, Wangchuk says ‘Hai Ram!’

Detained at Delhi border

Wangchuk and those accompanying him were detained at the Delhi border for violating prohibitory orders and were taken to different police stations, including Bawana, Narela Industrial Area, and Alipur, according to a police officer.

"We tried to convince them to go back as Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (which prohibits assembly of five or more people) is imposed in the national capital, but they were adamant," the officer said.

“They remain under detention,” he said.

A representative of the group claimed that Wangchuk was taken to Bawana police station and was not being allowed to meet his lawyers.

Indefinite fast at police stations

The activist and others have launched an indefinite fast at the police stations where they have been kept, the representative said.

Wangchuk and the other members of the group had sought official permission and even emailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but that information was used to detain the protesters, the representative claimed.

Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa told PTI that around 30 women were among those detained and they were kept with the male detainees.

However, Delhi Police had said on Monday night that women protesters were not detained.

"Several people from Ladakh have been detained. They have been kept at different police stations. I met some of them late last night and early today," Haneefa said.

He said around 60-70 people from Kargil who had come to join the march at the Singhu border on Tuesday morning were also stopped by Delhi Police.

Also Read: Sonam Wangchuk, 120 Ladakhis detained outside Delhi; Rahul calls it unacceptable

Wangchuk shares visuals from Delhi border

In a post on Instagram shortly before being detained, Wangchuk shared visuals from the Delhi border, where their buses were stopped amid huge police presence.

The climate activist can be seen in the video interacting with police officials.

In his post, Wangchuk said several vehicles of the Delhi Police and its Haryana counterpart were accompanying their buses. While they initially thought that they were being escorted as they approached the national capital, it was clear they were going to be detained.

"As we are approaching Delhi, it appears we are not being escorted, we are being detained," Wangchuk said.

‘1,000 policemen deployed at Delhi border’

He said around 1,000 police personnel had been deployed at the Delhi border and they were informed that heavy deployment of security forces was made at the Ladakh Bhawan in Delhi, and in areas where students from the Union Territory resided.

"It appears they don't want to allow this padyatra to take place," he said.

The Delhi Police on Monday (September 30) banned gatherings by five or more persons, carrying banners, placards, and arms, and protests in the central part and bordering areas for the next six days, citing law and order issues, including calls for protests by several organisations.

Also Read: Dilli chalo | Why a group of Ladakhis are on a month-long padayatra

Congress slams Modi govt

The Congress on Tuesday (October 1) slammed the Modi government over the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several other Ladakhis, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi terming it as "unacceptable" and saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have to listen to Ladakh's voice.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the "arrogance of the Modi government", consumed in power, has detained a group of citizens from Ladakh peacefully marching to Delhi.

Kharge said it was nothing but a "cowardly action, and is deeply undemocratic in nature".

In Ladakh, there is a growing wave of public support, with widespread calls for safeguarding tribal communities under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, he said.

"Instead, the Modi government wants to exploit the ecologically-sensitive Himalayan glaciers of Ladakh to benefit its crony friends. This incident tells us that the fight against Modi Govt's brazen despotism is far from over!" Kharge said.

Detention of Wangchuk, other Ladkahis unacceptable: Rahul

In a post on X, Rahul said, "The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable."

The former Congress chief also asked why elderly citizens were 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," Rahul said.

Also Read: One Nation, One Water? Why Ladakhis are wary of Jal Jeevan Mission

Govt of India out to kill Gandhiji’s ideals once again: Venugopal

Congress general secretary in-charge organisation, KC Venugopal, said a day before Gandhi Jayanti, the government of India is out to kill his ideals once again.

"The arrest of Sonam Wangchuk ji shows the government is scared of anyone who speaks up for their rights. Ladakh has been silenced, stripped of its democratic rights, and on the verge of being handed over to large corporates," Venugopal said.

"This protest is months old, and the BJP is silly to think such petty acts of cowardice are going to deter those who have embarked on a Gandhian mission. The Modi regime is hell bent on repeating the sins that have caused their downfall," the Congress leader said.

‘Locking Rajghat is a sin BJP govt has committed: Pawan Khera

Congress leader Pawan Khera shared on X, "For the first time after independence, it is being seen that the doors of Delhi are closed for farmers, environmentalists, and those who raise their voice for their rights... You are locking Rajghat which is a holy place for those who believe in the Constitution... This is a sin that the BJP government has committed."

Delhi CM Atishi to meet Wangchuk in police station

Delhi CM Atishi tweeted on X, "I will go to Bawana police station to meet Sonam Wangchuk today at 1 pm. Sonam Wangchuk and our 150 Ladakhi brothers and sisters were coming to Delhi peacefully. The police have stopped them. They have been imprisoned in Bawana police station since last night."

Also Read: Will go on 28-day fast from Aug 15 if govt doesn't initiate talks: Sonam Wangchuk

Wangchuk has dedicated his life to the nation: AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "People seek inspiration from people like Sonam Wangchuk as he has dedicated his entire life to the nation. If a person is coming to the national capital to raise some issues of Ladakh, which is a sensitive area, it is very bad that the Central government have imposed a curfew in Delhi and said that more than five people can't gather in Delhi for the next days. Navratri, Ramleela will start in Delhi from 3rd Nov and they are saying that more than five people can't gather in Delhi. If Delhi LG has guts, he should show how he can stop us."

BJP has provided full protection to gangsters: Sisodia

"I don’t understand what Amit Shah, PM Modi, and the BJP are doing. In Delhi, the BJP has provided complete protection to gangsters while treating people like Sonam Wangchuk, who love the country, as terrorists. The kind of force the BJP is using against Sonam Wangchuk should have been used to stop the gangsters in Delhi," said AAP leader Manish Sisodia.

(With agency inputs)