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

The detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his fellow padyatris at the Delhi border has drawn widespread condemnation from Ladakh and Opposition parties in general.

Wangchuk, on a month-long foot march from Ladakh to Delhi, was detained along with other team members on Monday (September 30) night.

“Our fate is unknown”

The well-known activist, who has been protesting for a Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh and a host of other issues for months now, shared a video of his detention on his Instagram handle. “I am being detained along with 150 padyatris at Delhi border, by a police force of 100s some say 1000,” he said.

“Many elderly men and women in their eighties and a few dozen Army veterans are with me, our fate is unknown,” he posted. A Delhi Police source, speaking to news agency PTI, however, claimed the women had not been detained.

Wangchuk further wrote, “We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi in the largest democracy in the world, the mother of democracy...Hai Ram!”

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

Four-year-long agitation

The padyatra has been organised by the Leh Apex Body, which, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been spearheading an agitation over the past four years to demand statehood for Ladakh, its inclusion in 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.

The Ladakh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance have called a Ladakh bandh on Tuesday, in support of which the Kargil Merchant Association has called for a day-long strike as well.

“Deceived by government”

Political activist from Kargil, Sajjad Kargili, told The Federal, “The authorities must not push people to the wall by denying them their fundamental right to protest, especially after snatching away so much from the people of Ladakh, especially our employment opportunities, land rights, representation, and more.”

Sajjad went on, “Ladakhis have been deceived by the government, and this marks yet another betrayal following the events of August 5, 2019.”

He reiterated that no matter what obstacles came their way, they would continue to demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.

‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken: Rahul

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi termed the detentions as “unacceptable” and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have to listen to Ladakh’s voice.

“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 tweeted.

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

Campaign to draw Centre’s attention

The month-long “Delhi Chalo Padyatra”, a massive movement aimed at bringing the Centre’s attention to the demands of the people of Ladakh, led by Wangchuk, entered Delhi on Monday evening.

The peaceful march, which started from Leh on September 1, has become part of a larger national campaign to draw the Centre’s attention to the region’s growing concerns.

The padyatris have covered 25 km each day. As they reached Delhi on Monday — the 30th day of the march — they had covered over 730 km. Besides, a total of 12 members of KDA joined on September 29 in Chandigarh.