Detention of Sonam Wangchuk and Supporters Ignites Political Tensions Over Ladakh’s Autonomy in Delhi
Image Source: Hindustan Times
October 21, 2024: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was blocked by police from entering Bawana Police Station, where climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and around 120 supporters were detained. Wangchuk and his group were marching from Ladakh to Delhi under the banner of “Delhi Chalo Padyatra” to demand Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh. The march, which had started from Leh a month prior, was halted when the activists were detained under Section 163 of the BNS Act at the Singhu border on Monday night.
Atishi criticized the police’s actions as “dictatorship,” questioning why peaceful protesters from Ladakh were prevented from expressing their concerns in Delhi. She emphasized that Ladakhi citizens should be allowed to voice their demands in a democratic country. The activists’ march culminated in a planned visit to Delhi, including a stop at the Gandhi Samadhi on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, as a symbolic gesture for peaceful protest. However, their detention has sparked a political confrontation between AAP and central authorities.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also condemned the police action, arguing that everyone has the right to come to Delhi. Sisodia pointed out the government’s focus on controlling peaceful protestors rather than addressing real issues like crime. Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa Jan voiced concern over the government’s handling of Ladakhi issues and called for a platform to submit their demands to Prime Minister Modi.
Wangchuk’s group was advocating for Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would grant local law-making powers to protect the region’s culture, land, and environment. The Sixth Schedule is designed to safeguard indigenous populations by giving them control over their governance, particularly in regions with unique ethnic, linguistic, and cultural identities.
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