Sonam Wangchuk, an environmental activist and leader of various protests advocating for the statehood of Ladakh stated that “If I am imprisoned for the Ladakh struggle, it will only exacerbate the issue.” Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for the past two weeks, demanding statehood for Ladakh and urging the inclusion of Ladakh in the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution. In support of his protest, the youth wing of the organization ‘Le Apex Party’ called for a complete shutdown in Ladakh yesterday. However, this resulted in violence. The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is designed to grant autonomous powers to the tribal communities residing in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, with the objective of safeguarding their language, culture, civilization, economy, and livelihood rights. In addition to statehood, the protesters in Ladakh are also advocating for autonomous powers. ‘Palikita politics will not work’ – In this regard, the Union Home Ministry released a statement attributing the youth’s resort to violence to Sonam Wangchuk’s speech. In response, Sonam Wangchuk remarked, “The Union Home Ministry is attempting to portray me as a victim of the violence in Ladakh. They are preparing to detain me under the Public Safety Act, with plans to imprison me for two years. I am also prepared for arrest.
However, rather than liberating me, my detention will only exacerbate the issues for the government. The BJP should abandon the strategy of using me as a scapegoat for the problems. Instead of placing blame on me or the Congress party for the riots and issues, they should focus on identifying and addressing the root causes. The central government may be familiar with the tactics of blame politics, but such strategies do not always yield results. Currently, intelligence will prove to be more effective than their deceitful tactics. The youth are already engulfed in despair.” Unemployment is the root – Previously, while commenting on the riots that occurred yesterday, Wangchuk stated, “The youth of Ladakh have been grappling with unemployment for six years. The unfulfilled promises at every level have led them to a state of despair. The peaceful demands made over the past five years concerning the cultural status of the tribals in Ladakh and the protection of the environment have gone unacknowledged. This is the reason they have turned to violence.
