Sonam Wangchuk

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday closed the proceedings on a plea seeking permission for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar here. Petitioner Apex Body Leh's counsel said they no longer wished to press the plea as the protest stood withdrawn following a discussion with the authorities. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing Delhi Police, added that Wangchuk has also withdrawn his fast and, therefore, the petition might not survive. Wangchuk -- who had been sitting on an indefinite fast at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan since October 6 -- ended his fast on Monday evening after the home ministry assured him that the talks on Ladakh's demands will resume in December. In view of the statements of the parties, a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma said, "Petition is dismissed as withdrawn." Wangchuk and his associates from Ladakh had marched to the national capital to demand the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth .

Elections alone don't make a country a democracy, it becomes one only when the voice of the people is heard, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been sitting on a fast in Delhi for the last 14 days, said. Wangchuk, who led a padayatra from Leh to Delhi, was detained last month with several of his supporters and later released. Since then, he has been sitting on an indefinite fast at Ladakh Bhawan here with about two dozen of his supporters, demanding a meeting with the country's top leadership. There has been no communication from the government so far regarding any meeting. The activist, who has been subsisting on salt-water solution since October 6, also rued that his supporters were being stopped from meeting him by heavy barricading erected around the building, which got a separate identity after being split from Jammu and Kashmir Bhawan. Frail after days of fasting, Wangchuk spoke softly but minced no words. "As you can see, there are restrictions here (at Ladakh Bhawan

All India Kisan Sabha leaders on Wednesday met Sonam Wangchuk and other fasting activists, and extended support, saying Ladakh is being treated as a colony with "bureaucrats controlling policies in the ecologically sensitive region" from outside. The Left-affiliated farmers' body urged more people to join the protesters' cause and "rise against the Modi-Shah government that is dangerous to democracy". Climate activist Wangchuk and his supporters have been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan since October 6, demanding a meeting with the top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss their demands. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) later issued a statement, supporting Ladakh's demands for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. "Since Jammu and Kashmir's statehood was dismantled, Ladakh has been treated like a colony, with outside bureaucrats controlling policies in the ecologically sensitive region. This has sparked massive protests, highlight

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and 20 other protestors were detained by the Delhi Police for protesting outside the Ladakh Bhawan here on Sunday, officials said. Around 20 to 25 protesters, who were on fast with Wangchuk, were detained and taken to the Mandir Marg police station, they said. Heavy police deployment was arranged to maintain the law and order. Some of the protesters argued that they were not protesting, but sitting peacefully. A senior police officer said the protesters do not have any permission to sit outside the Ladakh Bhawan. "They have filed an application to hold protest at the Jantar Mantar. Their application is under consideration. They are not allowed to protest at any other site. We have detained a few people, who will be released soon," he said. Wangchuk, along with his supporters, marched to Delhi from Leh demanding Ladakh's inclusion in the sixth schedule of the Constitution. They were detained at the capital's Singhu border earlier on September 30 by

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday evening said those who want to support their ongoing hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan can do so by observing a day-long fast on October 13. In a post shared on Instagram, Wangchuk said many people have come to meet them, and many have asked how they can extend support for Ladakh's demands. "Many of you have asked what you can do to support Ladakh. We don't want to stage any demonstration, those of you who want to support us can keep fast for a day on Sunday..." Wangchuk said. "If you want you can take out a padyatra in your city on Sunday as well. Those in Delhi can gather outside Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday, but those who comes should observe silence. There should be no sloganeering," he said. Wednesday was the fourth day of an indefinite hunger strike by Wangchuk and others from Ladakh, which started on Sunday afternoon. The climate activist said several people have come to meet them, including politicians. On Wednesday, a 91-years

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday continued his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan along with his supporters and appealed that the Centre should resume talks on their demands. Wangchuk, who is spearheading an agitation for Ladakh's Sixth Schedule status, had started his fast on Sunday afternoon. According to the protesters, they have not been approached by any government representative so far. This is the third day of the fast... We still hope our leaders will give us time. Even now we are 25 people sitting on hunger strike, Wangchuk told PTI. We hope the talks with Apex Body (Leh) and KDA (Kargil Democratic Alliance) will be resumed, this is our request, he said. Wangchuk said the people of Ladakh have worked for India's security without a uniform or a salary. Such treatment to people who have come from the border area is not in the national interest. Whenever India is in trouble, faces a war, these are the people who work with the Army without uniform or

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast to demand the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, stayed put at the Ladakh Bhawan here on Monday with protesters claiming that they were denied permission to move to Jantar Mantar. Wangchuk and his supporters marched to Delhi from Leh to press their demand and were detained at the capital's Singhu border on September 30. The 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra' is being spearheaded by the Leh Apex Body (LAB). The protesters were released by Delhi Police on the night of October 2. On Sunday, Wangchuk stepped out of the Ladakh Bhawan around 4 pm and announced that he was going to sit on a fast. An LAB member told PTI on Monday that the authorities are yet to allow the protesters to move to an alternate site to continue their stir, so the fast will continue at the Ladakh Bhawan. In a brief interaction with the media on Sunday before starting his fast, Wangchuk said he and his supporters were forced to protest at the Ladakh Bhawan

Supporters of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who were detained on September 30 at the Delhi border, said on Sunday the detention was a huge disappointment for them and alleged that they were treated like "terrorists" upon reaching the national capital. Led by Wangchuk, around 150 'padyatris' (marchers) from Ladakh started a 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra' from Leh on September 1, and were detained upon reaching Delhi on the night of September 30 for "violating" prohibitory orders and were taken to different police stations. They were kept in detention till they were finally taken to Rajghat on October 2. The demands of the protesters include statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, among others. On Sunday, Wangchuk sat on a fast at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan along with around a dozen supporters, after failing to get permission for a sit-in at Jantar Mantar. Gurmet Dorjay, former executive councillor of Korzok, who was among those who participated in

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday expressed his frustration on being denied permission to sit on a fast demanding Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital, and sought an alternative. Sharing a copy of the letter sent by Delhi Police rejecting his request for sitting on a fast at the Jantar Mantar, Wangchuk, in a post on X, said, "Another rejection, another frustration. Finally this morning we got this rejection letter for the officially designated place for protests." "If Jantar Mantar is not allowed, please tell us which place is allowed. We want to abide by all laws and still express our grievance in a peaceful way. Why is it so difficult to follow the path of Gandhi in his own country? There must be a way." In the letter, Delhi Police said the request was received at a "very short notice", and no specific time frame was mentioned about the gathering. As per guidelines, applications for holding any demonstration at the Jantar Mantar mu

Spearheading an agitation for Ladakh's Sixth Schedule status, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and Kargil Democratic Alliance member Sajjad Hussain Kargili on Saturday said they will sit on an indefinite fast here but are yet to find a venue. Another leader from Ladakh said a few others will also be joining Wangchuk and Kargili. Wangchuk had on Friday said he and other protesters from Ladakh would sit on an indefinite fast since they have not received any response from the government over their demand of meeting the President, prime minister or the Union home minister. On Saturday, however, he confirmed that though they had sought permission to be allowed to sit at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, they are yet to receive permission. While announcing the fast, Wangchuk had appealed to all groups, parties and organisations to provide them with a venue for their protest. The climate activist is leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which began from Leh a month ago. The march was organised by the

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said he and other protesters from Ladakh would sit on an indefinite fast from Saturday since they have not received any response from the government over their demand of meeting the President, prime minister or the Union home minister. Wangchuk was leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which began from Leh a month ago. The 'padyatra' was organised by the Leh Apex Body, which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been spearheading an agitation for the last four years for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. At a press conference here, the climate activist said they had written to the office of the President, Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, seeking an appointment and were assured that they would be informed about the meeting by Friday 5 pm. "We have not received any response from the government. So we will sit on an indefinite fast from tomorrow," Wangchuk said. Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa an

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his associates have been released from detention. The senior law officer also said that the Delhi Police order prohibiting assembly and protests in various parts of Delhi has also been withdrawn. Mehta made the statement before a bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. The bench was hearing petitions seeking the release of Wangchuk and his associates as well challenging the prohibitory order. Around 120 people from Ladakh, including Wangchuk, were allegedly detained at the Delhi border by police on Monday night while marching to the capital to demand the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Sixth Schedule pertains to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram as "autonomous districts and autonomous regions". Wangchuk was leading the march, 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which b

Wangchuk, along with around 120 others from Ladakh, was detained on Monday night, September 30, 2024, at the Delhi-Haryana border

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and 150 Ladakhis were again detained after they were released by the Delhi Police late Tuesday night, even as their indefinite fast continue at the police stations, officials said on Wednesday. Wangchuk and other detained Ladakhis were allowed to go on Tuesday night but they were adamant to march towards the central part of Delhi, therefore, they were detained again, a senior police officer told PTI. Wangchuk has been kept at the Bawana police station along with few others while others have been kept at Narela Industrial Area, Alipur and Kanjhawala police stations, he added. Wangchuk and those accompanying him were detained by the Delhi Police at the Singhu border on Monday night for violating prohibitory orders when they tried to enter the national capital to press for their demands. He was leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which began from Leh a month ago. It was organised by the Leh Apex Body, which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, ha

Sonam Wangchuk, along with approximately 120 others, was detained by the Delhi Police while marching towards the national capital to demand the implementation of the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh

Leh to Delhi foot march explained: Who is Sonam Wangchuk and what is the aim of his month-long foot march to Delhi

The BJP on Tuesday described the Congress' condemnation of the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several other Ladakhis as "hypocrisy in extreme". Wangchuk and more than 100 people from Ladakh who had marched to Delhi demanding that the union territory be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution were detained at the capital's border on Monday for violating prohibitory orders and taken to different police stations. The Congress on Tuesday slammed the Centre over the detention of Wangchuk and others with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi terming it "unacceptable" and saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to listen to Ladakh's voice. Asked about the Congress' reaction, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar said, "I don't know the facts. I will have to check the facts." "If Rahul Gandhi has a comment to make, why (does) he maintain a conspicuous silence when cartoonists are lifted in Kolkata and a satirist is jailed in Tamil Nadu," Shanka

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', a month-long march advocating for the statehood of Ladakh

The former Congress chief also asked why elderly citizens were being detained at Delhi's border for standing up for Ladakh's future