Education reformer and engineer Sonam Wangchug has called off his 21-day-long hunger strike against the central government to demand statehood in Ladakh. Wangchug has been hitting the headlines since the start of his hunger strike on March 6.
The reformer ends the protest saying, “I will continue to fight for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh and people’s political rights.” The reformer has been sharing each day of the strike on his social media profile on X, encouraging more people to join in, while more than five thousand people walking along with him.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Wangchuk urged the Union government to exhibit fortitude and address the grievances of the people of Ladakh. In a video shared on X platform, he gestured towards a frozen glass of water, emphasizing that despite temperatures plummeting to -10 degrees Celsius, 350 individuals had joined him in the hunger strike.
In recent years, Mr Wangchuk has emerged as a prominent figure in the protests in Ladakh, advocating for statehood for the Union Territory and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which allows for autonomous administration in certain tribal areas. He also aims to highlight the delicate ecology of the region.
In mid-February, the Union Territory witnessed a shutdown in Leh and Kargil districts following a call from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the KDA, two influential socio-political groups leading the agitation for the past three years.