Why Delhi police detained Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters?

On Monday night, Delhi Police detained around 120 individuals from Ladakh, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, at the Singhu border as they marched to the national capital. The group, advocating for environmental and constitutional rights for Ladakh, was stopped and detained due to prohibitory orders in the city.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic All Participants organized the "Delhi Chalo Padyatra" protest march to press their demands for Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, granting autonomy to safeguard their land and cultural identity. They also demanded separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts and greater political representation and environmental protections.

I AM BEING DETAINED...
along with 150 padyatris
at Delhi Border, by a police force of 100s some say 1,000.
Many elderly men & women in their 80s and few dozen Army veterans...
Our fate is unknown.
We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi... in the largest democracy… pic.twitter.com/iPZOJE5uuM

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 30, 2024

Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist from Ladakh, is urging the central government to engage in dialogue with Ladakhi leadership. The march aimed to raise awareness and highlight the concerns of the Ladakhi people, who have been pushing for their demands since Ladakh became a union territory in 2019.

Why were they detained?

The Delhi Police said the marchers intended to stay overnight at the Singhu border despite prohibitory orders banning gatherings of five or more people until October 5, due to potential law and order issues from planned protests. When the protesters refused to disperse, the police detained Wangchuk and his supporters.

Wangchuk and the marchers believed police cars were escorting them. Soon, they were informed of their detention and taken to Alipur and other police stations near the Delhi border.

The detention has sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X (formerly Twitter), calling the detention “unacceptable.” He compared it to the government’s handling of farmer protests, asserting that Modi’s “arrogance” would be defeated.

The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable.

Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future?

Modi ji, like with the farmers, this…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 30, 2024

Gandhi expressed concern over the detention of elderly citizens, asking, "Why are they detained at Delhi's border for advocating for Ladakh's future?" His remarks have fueled a political debate, with opposition leaders questioning the government's approach to peaceful protests.

Similarly, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the detention, calling it "wrong." He argued that Delhi, as India's capital, shouldn't restrict entry to peaceful protesters. "Is Delhi the property of one person?" he asked, adding the government seems afraid of unarmed, peaceful demonstrators.

दिल्ली में आने से कभी किसानों को रोकते हैं, कभी लद्दाख के लोगों को रोकते हैं। क्या दिल्ली किसी एक शख़्स की बपौती है? दिल्ली देश की राजधानी है। दिल्ली में आने का सब को अधिकार है। ये सरासर ग़लत है। निहत्थे शांतिपूर्ण लोगों से आख़िर इन्हें क्या डर लग रहा है? https://t.co/xPTMcLoTfF

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 1, 2024

Protests and demands for Ladakh

The people of Ladakh have long advocated for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, which grants special protections to tribal populations and their land. They seek statehood, a separate public service commission, and tailored recruitment processes. The movement reflects concerns about preserving their cultural identity and protecting natural resources threatened by environmental changes and infrastructure development.

Wangchuk, known for his activism and environmental work, has advocated for Ladakh’s ecological preservation. His detention has frustrated Ladakhi activists and supporters, who feel their voices are being muted.

In response to the detentions, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Leh Apex Body called for a ‘Ladakh Bandh’ to protest the treatment of Wangchuk and others. The Bar Association Kargil supported the strike, showing solidarity with the activists’ demands.

Hajan Fathima Bano, a leader from the Leh Apex Body, stated, “They haven’t gone there to fight, they want Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution but they’re detained. This shouldn’t happen.” Bano, who has long advocated for Ladakh’s rights, emphasized the importance of continuing the struggle to achieve these goals.

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