Hold talks with Ladakh groups or else I’ll consider serious options: Wangchuk to GoI

After drawing massive support from Ladakh and different parts of the country, the five-day climate fast being observed by Ladakhi innovator Sonam Wangchuk, whose life inspired Aamir Khan’s character in the ‘3 Idiots’ Bollywood movie, came to an end on Monday evening.

Hundreds of people belonging to political, social, religious and student organizations joined Wangchuk on the final day of hunger protest in support of the demand for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, including extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Union territory.

Wangchuk said the central government, particularly the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, should immediately start dialogue with the leaders of Leh and Kargil groups (Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance) to address the genuine concerns of Ladakhi people.

“We are not asking anything beyond the Constitution. The Central government should initiate talks with the leaders of Ladakh without any delay. The government should agree to one of the main demands of giving Ladakh protection under the Sixth Schedule. Else, I will have to consider longer and more serious options. I may observe a 10-day or even 20-day fast next time if the government fails to resolve the issues confronting the people of Ladakh,” Wangchuk said.

He said the UT administration of Ladakh should respect peaceful calls on environmental issues, including steps to save fast melting glaciers, constitutional safeguards for Ladakhis, and preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Asked about overwhelming support from various groups, Wangchuk, who is the Magsaysay Award recipient, said the people have not supported him but they came together for the common cause of saving Ladakh’s fragile environment, melting glaciers and unique cultural heritage.

Wangchuk had started his climate fast to “save Ladakh” on the rooftop of the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Ladakh (HIAL) in Phyang on January 26.

Barring BJP, almost all major political parties, social and religious groups and student organisations came together in both Leh and Kargil districts in support of Wangchuk’s demands.

During his fast, the UT administration asked him to sign a bond promising that he would not make any statements or participate in any public gatherings over recent happenings in Leh for at-least a month. He, however, refused to sign the bond and asked the UT administration to refrain from using “suppressive tactics” to muzzle the genuine voices of Ladakh.

Wangchuk had claimed that “he was under house arrest and his movement was curtailed” because he highlighted that the UT administration “miserably failed on all fronts during the last three years” but the police denied the charges of house arrest.

The Ladakhi innovator minced no words to take on UT administration, alleging that “They promised Ladakhi people 12,000 jobs but only 800 jobs, and that too, in the Police department have been filled to suppress the voice of Ladakhi people”.

Pertinently, Wangchuk started his climate fast at a time when two frontline organizations—LBA and KDA from Ladakh have refused to participate in proceedings of a high-level panel constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss job and land safeguards for the region. The bodies have said their demands of statehood Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule have not been included in the panel’s agenda.