Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Ladakh’s demands for greater autonomy and environmental protection. Wangchuk, along with volunteers, is marching from Leh to New Delhi to raise awareness and urge the government to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which would grant local law-making powers to protect Ladakh’s land and culture. Despite previous submissions of demands, Wangchuk stresses the urgency due to climate concerns and industrial encroachments on the ecologically-fragile region.
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- Sonam Wangchuk requests Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Ladakh’s inclusion would grant locals law-making powers to safeguard land and cultural identity.
- Wangchuk and 75 volunteers began a foot march from Leh to New Delhi on 1 September to raise their demands.
- Wangchuk has not received a response to the demands submitted during PM Modi’s July visit to Dras.
- He speculated that the creation of five new districts in Ladakh may be indirectly linked to their protests.
- Wangchuk emphasized that Ladakh is ecologically fragile and requires protection from industrial and climate challenges.
- The march aims to draw global attention to Ladakh’s environmental concerns.
- Wangchuk criticized the limited powers of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), which currently only manage funds.
- He clarified that the march is not politically motivated and unrelated to upcoming state elections.
- Wangchuk previously undertook a 21-day fast to demand statehood for Ladakh and protection from industrial exploitation.
