SRINAGAR: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Leh Apex Body on Wednesday began a 35-day fast in Leh, pressing for Ladakh’s statehood and its inclusion under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, as reported by Daily Excelsior.
Announcing the decision at a press conference following an all-faith prayer service, Wangchuk said the move came after the Union home ministry failed to convene talks over their demands in the past two months. He accused the Centre of forcing them to intensify their agitation by not addressing Ladakh’s concerns.
“The talks with the Union government stopped around two months ago, just when discussions on the main demands were about to begin,” Wangchuk said.
With elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh approaching, Wangchuk reminded the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of its earlier promise to grant Sixth Schedule safeguards to the region. “The promise should be fulfilled before the upcoming polls,” he said.
He added that the fast would culminate on Gandhi Jayanti, 2 October, which he described as a “landmark” in their movement. Stressing the peaceful nature of the agitation, Wangchuk said the all-faith prayer service was intended to underscore that their demands remain within the ambit of the Constitution.
