Sonam Wangchuk To Begin Leh To Delhi ‘Peace March’ From Sep 1 Demanding Statehood

The Leh Apex Body announced that it will begin a foot march on September 1 from Leh to Delhi to press for statehood of Ladakh which will be joined by noted activist Sonam Wangchuk.

Climate activist and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk along with 100 volunteers will start a foot march from Leh to Delhi on September 1, announced the Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Saturday. The protest will seek to urge the Centre to resume the stalled dialogue with the leadership of Ladakh on their four-point agenda including statehood for Ladakh. 

The LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), both separate groupings of various political, social and religious organisations, have been jointly spearheading an agitation for the last four years demanding statehood, an extension of the Constitution's sixth schedule, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

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

Chering Dorjey Lakruk, co-chairman of LAB said that the volunteers will set for the foot march on September 1 and will reach Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, while announcing the peaceful march.

The dates could, however, change if the number of volunteers remains less than 100 but the march will "definitely happen", Lakruk said during a press conference. 

"The decision to conduct the march was taken at the Apex body meeting two days ago. 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," he said. 

Wangchuk, who also addressed the press conference, said that the Ladakhis were hopeful that the Centre would carry forward the dialogue with their representatives after settling down for the third term. "We want the nation to hear our voice and also want to impress the government to honour its promises and resume dialogue with our leaders," said the 57-year-old activist. 

Asked about his plan to go for another hunger strike, Wangchuk said that he would be left with no option but to take the "extreme step" if the Ladakhi leaders were not called for the dialogue. 

However, he said that the LAB has decided not to go on a hunger strike for the time being to give more time to the government. "We are prepared for it as well," Wangchuk added.

Wangchuk had gone on a hunger strike in February this year to press their demands including Ladakh's statehood and the protection of the fragile Himalayan ecology. The strike ended 21 days later on March 26 and the noted climate activist and education reformer insisted this was only the end of phase one and that his fight will continue. 

The announcement for the latest protest comes after Wangchuk had hoped that if the Bharatiya Janata Party would come into power for a third term, it would "realise that if they have made promises then they should keep it.

Asked about planning more protests during an interview with ABP LIVE in June, Wangchuk said: "I don’t think so, I don’t hope so. I hope if the same government comes they will realise that if they have made promises then they should keep it. A party, which steps back from their own written promises, will not be respected by anybody in the nation or internationally. Indigenous movements around the world will see it as a deceit."