Protest rally taken out in Leh
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI/LEH, Oct 13: Delhi Police on Sunday detained several people from outside the Ladakh Bhawan where climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is leading an indefinite hunger strike since October 6 to press for their demand to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
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According to one of the protesters, the detainees have been taken to the Mandir Marg Police Station.
Earlier police said that Sonam Wangchuk was among those detained, but later the New Delhi DCP clarified that the climate activist was not among the detainees.
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“We have detained some students from outside the Ladakh Bhawan. Sonam Wangchuk is not among them,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla said.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk said in a video message that the Delhi Police detained several of their supporters, as he questioned why Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) which prohibits unauthorised gatherings is permanently enforced in New Delhi.
“Many people came here today to observe a silent protest. It is really sad that they were detained by Delhi Police. It is sad because in world’s largest democracy, we can’t even hold a silent protest,” Wangchuk said in the message.
“We have been told that Section 163 has been enforced… It is sad that the mother of democracy has such a restriction imposed all through the year. This section is usually enforced temporarily only where there is a chance of law and order getting disrupted,” Wangchuk added.
“This is a blot on our democracy, and courts should also take cognisance of it… How can such sections be imposed permanently,” he asked.
The Ramon Magsaysay awardee climate activist also shared videos of people being detained on Instagram.
Stating that the protesters did not have the permission to sit outside the Ladakh Bhawan where Section 163 of BNSS is in place, a senior police officer said, “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.”
Wangchuk and his supporters who marched to Delhi from Leh were detained by Delhi Police at the Singhu border on September 30 before being released on October 2.
The group is demanding a meeting with the top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to press for their demands.
The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution includes provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram in northeast India. It also establishes autonomous councils that have legislative, judicial, executive and financial powers to independently govern these areas.
The march to Delhi was organised by the Leh Apex Body which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance has been spearheading an agitation for the last four years seeking Statehood for Ladakh, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a Public Service Commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Meanwhile, in Leh, various villages in Ladakh conducted ‘Pad Yatras’ and observed a day-long hunger strike today in solidarity with them.
As reports emerged about the detention of 61 peaceful protesters supporting the ‘Pad Yatris’ who were peacefully sitting outside Ladakh Bhawan, a peaceful protest rally was taken out in Leh to demand their immediate release.
People participated in hunger strikes at monasteries and mosques in different villages throughout the region.
The Leh Apex Body had earlier urged every village in Ladakh to engage in ‘Pad Yatras’ and hold a day-long hunger strike on Sunday in support of those led by noted environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk who are on hunger strike in the national capital.
The hunger strike involves around 25 Pad Yatris from Ladakh, led by Wangchuk, who are urging the Government of India to resume dialogue with Ladakh’s leaders regarding crucial demands, including Statehood and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh.
The Apex Body has expressed concern over the deteriorating health of many hunger strikers in New Delhi, warning that any adverse outcome would be the responsibility of the Government. They called on the Government of India to promptly resume discussions on Ladakh’s demands before the health of those on hunger strike further deteriorates.
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