Wangchuk's detention: Protests erupt against Centre in Leh, Kargil
Many slammed the Modi government for quashing the voices of Ladakhis and putting them behind bars for raising their demands for statehood
By : Murtaza Fazily
Update: 2024-10-02 10:24 GMT
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's detention by the Delhi police, along with his fellow padayatris, has sparked off massive protests and rallies in both the districts of Ladakh - Leh and Kargil.
Wangchuk and others had undertaken the 'Delhi Chalo' march from Leh to Delhi to discuss with the Centre their demands for greater autonomy in Ladakh’s administration.
Protests in Kargil
However, the protestors led by Wangchuk were stopped and arrested by Delhi police at the Singhu border. This led the people of Leh and Kargil to take to the streets in anger.
On October 2, the Kargil Democratic Alliance organised a protest rally supported by all political, religious, and social organisations and the civil society of Kargil.
The protesters raised slogans against the BJP-led central government for quashing the voices of peaceful padayatris, who had undertaken a month-long journey to demand statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.
The protesters wanted the early release of the detainees and to fulfill the demands raised by the Ladakhi leader Wangchuk for the past five years, starting in 2019.
The protestors slammed the Modi government for quashing the voices of Ladakhis and putting them behind bars for raising their demands for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
Also read: Sonam Wangchuk released, detained again for persisting with march; indefinite fast continues
Ladakhis upset
Speaking to The Federal, a protestor, Murtaza Khalili, representing a leading religious organisation, Ladakh Jamiat ul ulama Isna Asharia Kargil, said this is a "black day" for Indian democracy. He slammed the Modi government for quashing the voices of Ladakhis and putting them behind bars for raising their demands for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Khalili asserted that the detainees should have been welcomed after a rigorous month-long padayatra, and this unjust action by the Delhi police has hurt the sentiments of all Ladakhis. "We demand that they be released at the earliest," he added.
Manzoor Hussain, a Kargil youth, told The Federal, said this action taken by the Centre is "unconstitutional". "We very strongly express our angst about it," he pointed out emotionally.
According to Hussain, Wangchuk was supposed to highlight and raise the demands for statehood for Ladakh and safeguards for the Union Territory after his padayatra ended at Rajghat on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti day. However, the Modi government deliberately suppressed the demands of Ladakhis so that the nation and the world doesn't get to know what is happening in Ladakh for the past five years, he said.
Ground realities in Ladakh
President of the District Congress Committee in Kargil, Nasir Munshi, who is also a councillor in LAHDC Kargil said the BJP-led central government needs to understand the ground realities and challenges in Ladakh.
"We will continue our demands to safeguard the constitutional rights for Ladakh," he said, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to listen to the demands of Ladakhis with an open heart.
Munshi reiterated, “Central government should not test our patience, furthermore, we have consistently protected our borders on both Pakistan and Chinese frontiers, and it's high time that the central government changes its policy related to Ladakh."
Undemocratic
Notably, after Sonam Wangchuk was detained, Kargil political representatives, including Ladakh MP Hanifa Jan and chief executive councillor of LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohammed Jaffer Akhoon and other political representatives were also detained.
While talking to The Federal, CEC LAHDC Kargil Dr Jaffer Akhoon said, "Yesterday, we were taken into custody by the Delhi Police promising that we will be allowed to meet Sonam Wangchuk, which didn't happen. Delhi police just detained us at the police station”.
He added that the central government has once again deceived them. Dr Akhoon and the Ladakh MP Hanifa Jan were released later in the night yesterday. Terming the incident as "undemocratic" and "goes against the spirit of democracy,” Dr Akhoon said they are communicating with the home ministry demanding the early release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Leh bandh
Meanwhile, Leh district observed a complete bandh on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 1 and October 2) and a public rally was also organised.
Responding to the arrests, the Leh BJP leadership held a press conference expressing their concerns about detaining Sonam Wangchuk and the other padayatris.
‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’ was held to demand the support of Ladakh’s statehood, extension of the Sixth Schedule, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.