On Day 15 Of 'Climate Fast', Activist Sonam Wangchuk Plans Border March To Highlight 'Danger' To Ladakh

Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk began his ‘climate fast’ on March 6.

Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk (File Photo)

Leh: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on hunger strike for the past two weeks in support of statehood and constitutional safeguards under the sixth schedule for the Union Territory of Ladakh, announced plans for a border march to highlight the "ground reality" to the outside world. Wangchuk, known for his work in education reform, initiated the ‘climate fast’ on March 6, following unsuccessful talks between representatives of Leh-based Apex body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Central government regarding four-point demands, as reported by PTI.

On the start of day 15 of his ‘climate fast’, Wangchuk on social media platform X said, "I'm still fine surviving on just water & salts. Along with me, 125 people slept hungry outdoors under clear skies. The temperature is 11 °C. Let's understand that saving Ladakh's glaciers is not just a concern for the people of Ladakh alone. Find out how it concerns all of us..."

BEGINNING OF DAY 15 OF #CLIMATEFAST
I'm still fine surviving on just water & salts.
Along with me 125 people slept hungry outdoors under clear skies. Temperature: - 11 °C
Let's understand that saving Ladakh's glaciers is not just a concern for people of Ladakh alone. Find out… pic.twitter.com/tXPqS6ro4w

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 20, 2024

Earlier, he said, "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."

The KDA has called a half-day general strike and a rally in Kargil town on March 20 as part of the ongoing agitation. 

Notably, at the 'Ideas Of India Summit 3.0', the third edition of ABP Network's flagship event, Sonam Wangchuk talked about the dangers of mining in the mountains. Sonam Wangchuk said, "I want to tell people living in big cities that their lifestyle has a huge impact on the fragile ecology of mountains like Ladakh... Live simpler lives so that there is less need for extraction and mining. Please live simpler lives so that people in the mountains may simply live."

 "Unfortunately, today we are chasing after fulfilling desires rather than conquering them. If we had chosen the right path, we wouldn't have made a mess of this planet. This value is what can make us a 'Vishwaguru'. We better show a different path, working on the demand side, minimizing desires rather than only addressing the supply side of raw materials and minerals," Sonam Wangchuk said.