Govind Tekale
Sonam Wangchuk led a long march from Leh to Delhi, starting on September 1, 2024.
Photo Source- Google
The removal of Article 370 granted Ladakh the status of a Union Territory, establishing the position of a Lieutenant Governor to oversee its administration.
The main demands of the region include statehood for Ladakh, tribal status under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, and administrative autonomy within a state framework.
The 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra' organized by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) advocates for statehood, the extension of the Sixth Schedule, an expedited recruitment process, a Public Service Commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Wangchuk likened the peaceful nature of the march to Acharya Vinoba Bhave's 'Bhoodan Padayatra,' stating, "This is Ladakh’s peaceful expedition, which will continue to be so."
A 90-year-old Ladakhi citizen living in Switzerland has expressed his willingness to join the Ladakhi activists in Delhi, while Ladakhi student and rapper, Ladoll, has been vocal in singing protest songs.
Currently, there is only one Member of Lok Sabha representing Ladakh, named Mohd. Haneefa, from the Indian National Congress, despite Ladakh being the largest Lok Sabha constituency, covering an area of 173,266 square kilometers.
The late Prof. Balraj Madhok, a member of Janata Dal from Ladakh, also advocated for enhanced benefits for the local population.
The month-long march of Ladakhi activists, led by Sonam Wangchuk, was aimed to conclude in Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti; however, Wangchuk and other volunteers were detained upon their arrival in the capital, leaving the future of their demands uncertain.
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