Sonam Wangchuk-Led ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’ Begins From Leh: 'Enthusiastic Response', Elderly Join In Too

The last round of talks between the representatives from Ladakh and the central government ended in March without any concrete outcome on the former's demands, including statehood.

The ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’ by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), led by climate activist and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, began from NDS Park in Leh, Ladakh, on Sunday. The march aims to bring attention to the demands of the people of Ladakh, including statehood. More than 100 volunteers joined the foot march from Leh to Delhi on Sunday in order to urge the Centre to resume the stalled dialogue with the leadership of Ladakh on their four-point agenda.

The apex body, in collaboration with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been leading an agitation for the past four years, advocating for statehood, Ladakh's inclusion in the Constitution’s sixth schedule, an expedited recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

The LAB and KDA are collectives of various social, religious, political and trade groups based in the two districts.

Speaking to PTI, Sonam Wangchuk said people were expected to join the movement. He said that participants of the march were enthusiastic, adding that senior citizens and women were also joining in. He said a 90-year-old woman living in Switzerland was among the participants. “People are peacefully pressing their demands. We are demanding the sixth schedule, it ensures democracy at grassroots level, and statehood, which ensures this at a bigger level, we are just demanding these two,” he added. 

The last round of talks between the representatives from Ladakh and the central government ended in March without any concrete outcome. 

Amid chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘We want the Sixth Schedule’, LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang flagged off the march from NDS Park. Wangchuk expressed hope that the government would respond with positive news upon their arrival in Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 

The decision to conduct the march was taken at a meeting in August. “Given the peak farming and tourism season, there is a possibility of less number of volunteers. We appeal to every section of the society to come forward and join the march," Chering Dorjey Lakruk, co-chairman of LAB, said.

An elderly participant, Tsering Dorjey, said although his health would not allow him to cover the full distance of around 1,000 km by foot, “I will try to be part of the march as long as I can." “By this march, we want to convey a message that we are very serious with regard to our four demands,” he said.