Delhi Police detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters at the Singhu border on Monday night. On September 1, Sonam Wangchuk led the ‘Delhi Chalo March’ from Leh and was about to enter the national capital; however, Section 163 of the BNS has been imposed at Delhi borders, reported ANI.
I AM BEING DETAINED…
along with 150 padyatris
at Delhi Border, by a police force of 100s some say 1,000.
Many elderly men & women in their 80s and few dozen Army veterans…
Our fate is unknown.
We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi… in the largest democracy… pic.twitter.com/iPZOJE5uuM— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 30, 2024
Sonam Wangchuk also shared news of his detention on the social media platform ‘X’.
“I AM BEING DETAINED… along with 150 padyatris at Delhi Border, by a police force of hundreds, some say 1,000. Many elderly men & women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans… Our fate is unknown. We were on the most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi… in the largest democracy in the world, the mother of democracy… Hai Ram!” Wangchuk posted.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the action, calling Wangchuk’s detention “unacceptable.”
The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable.
Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future?
Modi ji, like with the farmers, this…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 30, 2024
Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters’ peaceful march on social media after X.
“The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis who were peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable,” Rahul Gandhi said.
He urged Prime Minister Modi to listen to Ladakh’s voice. “Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future? Modi ji, as with the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice,” he added.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced to X that she would visit the activist Bawana police station in the afternoon today. Her post read, “Sonam Wangchuk and our 150 Ladakhi brothers and sisters were coming to Delhi peacefully. The police have stopped them. They have been imprisoned in Bawana police station since last night. Is it wrong for Ladakh to demand democratic rights? Is it wrong for satyagrahis to go to Gandhi Samadhi on 2 October? Stopping Sonam Wangchuk ji is dictatorship. I will go to Bawana police station to meet him today at 1 pm.”
सोनम वांगचुक और हमारे 150 लद्दाखी भाई-बहन शांतिपूर्ण तरीक़े से दिल्ली आ रहे थे। उनको पुलिस ने रोक लिया है। कल रात से बवाना थाने में क़ैद हैं।
क्या लद्दाख के लोकतांत्रिक अधिकार माँगना ग़लत है? क्या 2 अक्तूबर को सत्याग्रहियों का गांधी समाधि जाना ग़लत है?
सोनम वांगचुक जी को रोकना… https://t.co/Nr9LVoiM7a
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) October 1, 2024
What is “Delhi Chalo March”?
Sonam Wangchuk and other volunteers marched from Leh to New Delhi to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh’s leadership regarding their demands.
One of their key demands is that Ladakh be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting the local population law-making powers to protect their land and cultural identity.
Earlier, on reaching Himachal Pradesh on September 14, Wangchuk emphasised their mission’s purpose. “We are on a mission to remind the government of the promise it made to us five years ago,” he stated.
Wangchuk has advocated for statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution–which grants special rights to tribal communities–and stronger ecological protections for Ladakh.
Previously, Sonam Wangchuk completed a nine-day fast in Leh to draw the authorities’ attention to the importance of safeguarding Ladakh’s fragile mountain ecology and indigenous people. After the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was split into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
