Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk Detained at Delhi Border During Peaceful March
New Delhi [India], October 1: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters were detained by Delhi Police at the Singhu border on Monday night. Section 163 of the BNS has been imposed at Delhi borders, according to Delhi Police.
Wangchuk took to social media to inform about his detention, stating, “I AM BEING DETAINED… along with 150 padyatris at Delhi Border, by a police force of hundreds, some say 1,000. Many elderly men & women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans… Our fate is unknown. We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi… in the largest democracy in the world, the mother of democracy… Hai Ram!”
Wangchuk and other volunteers were on a foot march from Leh to New Delhi to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh’s leadership regarding their demands. One of their key demands is for Ladakh to be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting law-making powers to the local population to protect their land and cultural identity.
Wangchuk and around 75 volunteers started their foot march from Leh on September 1. Earlier, Wangchuk stated that they were on a mission to remind the government to fulfil the promise it made five years ago. “We are on a mission to remind the government to fulfil the promise it made to us five years ago,” he said on September 14 when the foot march reached Himachal Pradesh.
Wangchuk has been advocating for statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which grants special rights to tribal communities, and stronger ecological protections for Ladakh. Previously, Sonam Wangchuk completed a nine-day fast in Leh, which he undertook to draw the authorities’ attention to the importance of safeguarding Ladakh’s fragile mountain ecology and indigenous people. After the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was split into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Doubts Revealed
Climate Activist -: A climate activist is someone who works to protect the environment and fight against climate change. They try to make people and governments take actions to save our planet.
Sonam Wangchuk -: Sonam Wangchuk is a famous engineer and innovator from Ladakh, India. He works on projects to help the environment and improve education.
Detained -: Detained means being stopped and held by the police. It is like when someone is not allowed to go somewhere for a while.
Delhi Police -: Delhi Police is the law enforcement agency that takes care of safety and order in Delhi, the capital city of India.
Singhu border -: Singhu border is a place on the outskirts of Delhi. It became well-known during the farmers’ protests in India.
Leh -: Leh is a town in the region of Ladakh, which is in the northern part of India. It is known for its beautiful mountains and cold weather.
Sixth Schedule of the Constitution -: The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides special protections and rights to certain regions and their people, especially in terms of land and governance.
Statehood -: Statehood means becoming a state with its own government and more control over local matters. Ladakh wants to be recognized as a separate state in India.
Ecological protections -: Ecological protections are rules and actions to keep the environment safe and healthy. This includes protecting plants, animals, and natural resources.
Social media -: Social media are websites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where people share information and communicate with others.
Veterans -: Veterans are people who have served in the military. They are often respected for their service to the country.