Journey from Ladakh to Delhi, Why did Sonam Wangchuk walk 1000 km with a team of 100 people?

Activist Sonam Wangchuk and more than 100 of his companions, who reached Delhi from Leh, were detained by the Delhi Police on Monday night at the Singhu border. Politics is also being done on this issue. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacked the government sharply over the detention of Sonam Wangchuk. Wangchuk and other activists had set out on a foot march from Ladakh to New Delhi to urge the Center to resume talks with the Ladakh leadership regarding their demands.

One of Sonam Wangchuk's main demands is that Ladakh be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, giving local people the power to make laws to protect their land and cultural identity. Wangchuk and about 75 volunteers started their march on foot on 1 September.

The 6th Schedule of the Constitution provides special protection and autonomy to certain tribal areas of India. It helps preserve their culture and manage their resources. After the repeal of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir was divided and Ladakh was given the status of a separate Union Territory. Wangchuk is demanding that concrete steps be taken to protect the environment of the Union Territory and Ladakh be given the status of a state and brought under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

In support of his demand, Sonam Wangchuk held a five-day 'climate fast' at the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) campus in Leh from January 26-30. The protest culminated with a public rally at Leh's Polo Ground on January 31. Hundreds of locals joined him. In his speech, Wangchuk expressed unhappiness over the UT status and being ruled by the Lieutenant Governor.

He had then said, We thought it would be better than being part of Jammu and Kashmir, because we would have a legislature and decisions would be taken according to the wishes of the people. But we have not seen anything like that happening. He fasted for 21 days in Leh in March, surviving on water and salt.

Left for Delhi on 1 September

On September 1, Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Wangchuk along with more than 100 supporters marched on foot to Delhi in support of his demands. He says his march is to draw attention to the devastating effects of climate change in Ladakh and the Himalayan region.