Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters in “Delhi 🍒Chalo Padyatra” were💝 detained by Delhi Police on Monday night. Approximately 150 protesters from Ladakh, along with Wangchuk were detained at the Singhu border of the national capital.
The group, referring to themselves as “Padyatris”🎃, was participating in a march towards Gandhi Samadhi in Delhi, aimed at advocatꦏing for Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Following the detention of Ladakh padyatris, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body, Leh called for "🅘Ladakh Bandh" on Tuesday. Shops across the Union Territory remain closed as residents demand Wangchuk and his supporters to be released.
“Modi ji, like wi🔥th the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice,”Gandhi wrote on X.
What is 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra'?
'Delhi Chalo Padyatra,' is a march to Delhi, organized by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, both 🍒of which have b🍷een advocating for statehood, constitutional rights, and other local governance issues for the past four years.
Wangchuk, prior to his detention, shared video updates from the border where police presence was substantial, indicating that their buses were being stopped. Initially believing they were being escorted, however, the reality of their situation bꦬecame clear as they neared the capital, Sonam said in the video.
The protestors are seeking key demands including the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to Ladakh, the establishment of a public service commission, and 🙈the allocation of separate Lok Sabha seats for the Leh a꧅nd Kargil districts. These demands have been central to the ongoing agitation by local leaders.
Why did the police detain Sonam Wangchuk and others?
The Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on Monday announced the imposition of section 163 (which was earlier section 144 of CrPC) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the districts of New Delhi, North and Central and all police stations jurisdiction sharing the borders with other states till October 5. The ꦯorder bans gatherings of five or more persons in various parts of the national capital, citing law and order concerns amid expected protests from various organizations.
Wangchuk and his team wanted to spend the night at the border but🌜 the police denied the same due to the prohibitory order under section 263 of BNS. "They were initially requested to go back as prohibitory ord🌟ers were imposed in Delhi but when they did not stop, the policemen who were already deployed at the border, detained about 120 men, including Wangchuk," a police officer said.
According to reports, around 1,000 police personnel were deployed to manage the situation at the Delhi border. Although the d🌠etention did not spare older citizens, the women participating in the march were not detained. The decisions made by the authorities have sparked debates regarding civil rights and the right to pꦑrotest in the context of local governance issues.
What is the Sixth Schedule and why does Ladakh want it?
The sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution provides for the tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram in northeast India. It was designed to protect the indigenous and tribal groups by establishing and fun💎ctioning autonomous district divisions called Autonomous District Councils (ADC).
Sonam Wangchuk and other Ladakhis are demanding the sixth schedule for Ladakh as they seek sustainable development and protect the UT's environment and culture. They want to have a say in the laws made for the UT as around 97% population of Ladakh are tribals. &n🍰bsp;
“We have two appeals: one for global citizens to change lifestyles to mitigate local hardships. Simultan🉐eously, local and national governments can provide autonomy to local people, as provided by provisions like the Sixth Schedule, empowering indigenous communities to manage their mountains sustainably and ensuring democratic decision-making and progress,” Wangchuk said in a conversation with Mongabay-India.
