On Wednesday, the 15th day of his 21-day fast hunger strike in Leh, activist Sonam Wangchuk has said that 10,000 Ladakhis will march to draw attention to the alleged “Chinese intrusion in the area, and the takeover of land by corporates”.
“Our nomads are losing prime pasture land to huge Indian industrial plants to the south & Chinese encroachment to the north. To show the ground reality we're planning a Border March of 10,000 Ladakhi shepherds & farmers soon,” Wangchuk announced.
Wangchuk added that his fast could be extended till his death. A frail looking Wangchuk has been updating the world about his protest and demand on social media, garnering huge attention.
“Good morning world, greetings from Ladakh, the high Himalayas. I am starting my 15th day of climate fast out in the open. Temperature this night has been minus 11 degrees and together with me some 115 people slept in the open to remind the Indian government of the promises they have made to save guard the fragile ecology and the unique indigenous tribal cultures that live here under the sixth schedule of the Indian constitution,” Wangchuk’s page on Instagram posted on Wednesday.
The climate activist is demanding the sixth schedule for Ladakh. The Citizen has written extensively on the sixth schedule and why the people of Leh and Ladakh are demanding it.
In addition to putting the Ladakh movement for special status under the Sixth Schedule of the constitution and the statehood of the Union Territory in focus, Wangchuk is primarily highlighting climate issues through his fast.
‘The Telegraph’ has reported that Wangchuk is aiming to march to the China border on March 27, when the 21-day period of his fast will end. It could be delayed if he falls ill.
The report quoted Wangchuk as having said that Ladakh was losing prime pastureland to Indian industrialists and the Chinese army.
“If we go to the Changthang plains on the border of Tibet or China, you will see how much land the nomadic tribes that are famous for producing pashmina fibre are losing. On one hand, they are losing land to Indian corporates who are going there to set up their plants, industry, and maybe mining in future.
“There is already a huge 13 gigawatt solar plant and they are losing roughly 1,50,000 square kilometre of prime pastureland to it,” he told the newspaper.
Besides that Wangchuk also seeks a separate Lok Sabha seat for Leh and Kargil districts, a recruitment process and a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh. He also claims that the union territory tag has made Ladakh vulnerable to industrial exploitation which could devastate the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayan region.
As the activist sits on protest braving the cold temperature hundreds of people have joined him demanding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government listen to their demands.
Wangchuk has alleged that the Centre, after a delay of four years, has declined to fulfil the promises. “After four years of dilly dallying tactics, the Centre, finally on March 4, straightaway declined to fulfil the promises. This is a total breach of trust and faith in leaders, governments and elections and if this continues it will set a very bad precedent for all elections and governments to come,” Wangchuk said.
The protest is taking place after various failed attempts to have talks with the Central government. The protest is being led by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
“We hear that Prime Minister Modi is an aspirant of the Nobel peace prize. Well, I know the Nobel foundation because I have done lectures there at investiture ceremonies and trust (me) integrity of character is one of the minimum values they expect. The other simple appeal the people of Ladakh are making from the government is to restore basic democracy,” Wangchuk added.
In a statement he urged the people across the globe to hold fast in their cities. “On March 24, if possible I urge the people across the world to hold little congregations and fast in your cities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the march planned by Wangchuk will be under the leadership of nomadic leaders and aims to show people footage of how much land meant for pasturing has been taken over.
“On the other hand, they are losing land to the Chinese army, which is encroaching from the north,” he added.
Wangchuk said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy had said that 4,056 kilometres of land has been lost in just a few years.” Citing that security forces may stop the march, Wangchuk added that it will be a proof in itself that “there are a lot of things to be covered up.”