Latest news with #SonamWangchuk
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Centre advances talks to July 20; Sonam Wangchuk defers hunger strike
Following a proposal by the BJP government at the Centre to pre-pone another rounds of talks over statehood and Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, co-chairman of the Leh apex body and former minister, Chering Dorje Lakrook on Saturday announced that environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk has deferred his 35 day-long hunger strike. Sonam Wangchuk, newly inducted into the Leh apex body, was set to begin a hunger strike on July 15.(PTI ) Wangchuk, a newly inducted member of the Leh apex body, had planned to go on hunger strike from July 15, if the Centre failed to hold talks with LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) before July 15. Addressing a press conference at Leh, Lakrook said, 'Since a new proposal has come from the Centre to hold talks on July 20 and there is no big gap between July 15 and 20, Sonam Wangchuk has decided to defer his hunger strike.' 'However, we have to see if they (MHA) invite us on July 20 for another round of talks. At the same time, we have to see if they include statehood and Sixth Schedule in the agenda or not because we don't want to remain entangled on the issue of unemployment. A lot of talks followed by action for jobs has already taken place,' said Lakrook. On recent developments regarding the Buddhist spiritual leader Thupstan Chhewang parting ways with LAB, he said, 'We will resolve the issue soon.' Leh apex body along with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has been spearheading a protracted agitation for statehood and Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. The home ministry had earlier assured to hold the meeting on July 28, which according to LAB, has now pre-poned the date to July 20. Following continual agitations by the people of Ladakh, the Union home ministry had formed a high-powered committee in 2023 under minister of state Nityanand Rai to discuss ways to protect Ladakh's unique culture, considering its location and strategic importance. During his visit to the strategic region on June 30 and July 1, union home secretary Govind Mohan had met a delegation of the Leh apex body and assured them that next meeting of the MHA with apex body and KDA will be convened soon. It may be stated here that Sonam Wangchuk has recently joined the Leh apex body and also agreed upon to represent high powered committee and sub committee during deliberations with the union home ministry. However, veteran Buddhist spiritual leader Thupstan Chhewang recently quit the apex body and high powered committee. He was the chairman of the high powered panel. In a statement issued to media, Chhewang reiterated his decision to stay away from electoral politics and partisan affiliations. 'In keeping with this stance, I hereby resign as Chairman and member of the Apex Body, as well as from the High-Powered Committee. I prefer not to be entangled in competing interests,' he said in the note.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Wangchuk plans another fast from July 15 to press for demands
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is once again starting a protest fast from July 15 to reiterate the demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule for Ladakh. This phase of protest is scheduled to continue for at least a month and representatives from across the region are likely to participate and support his initiative."We want the government to seriously continue the talks with the representatives of Ladakh on these core issues," he told Centre had on June 3 announced new reservation and domicile policies for Ladakh, reserving 85% jobs for locals and one-third of the total seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Northern crown
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. Govt did well to address some of Ladakh's concerns. Remaining issues must be resolved sensitively GOI did the right thing by introducing a new reservation and domicile policy for Ladakh. Guaranteeing 85% reservations for locals in govt jobs – excluding EWS category – will address local anxiety about high unemployment. It's important to recall that Ladakhis have been peacefully pressing for their demands, in the best traditions of democracy. This was best exemplified by activist Sonam Wangchuk's walk from Ladakh to Delhi and subsequent 16-day hunger strike last year. To its credit, govt did consult Ladakh's civil society organisations before working out the new policies. However, key demands remain unfulfilled. Ladakh's demands stem from the fact that following nullification of Article 370 in 2019 that abrogated special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir – of which Ladakh was a part – the region was hived off and converted to a UT without a legislature. While initially welcomed – because Ladhakis often felt govts in Srinagar were biased against the region – the new setup was soon seen as inadequate in addressing key issues like unemployment, preservation of local culture, and protection of a fragile ecosystem. Hence the demand for inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. It can't be stressed enough that ecological conservation is central to Ladakh's aspirations. The region is experiencing serious glacier retreat, with some glaciers like Parachik retreating by 12-20 metres per annum. Therefore, development here can't happen the same way as in other regions. We have already seen the adverse impact of non-ecologically compliant infra projects in mountainous states. Also, Ladakh's status as a border region with China and Pakistan brings additional security challenges. Ecology and security are joined at the hip here. Therefore, defence infra projects and people's aspirations must be in harmony. People of Ladakh are our shield. Listen to them. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sonam Wangchuk: ‘Govt's Ladakh notifications a partial resolution… If our main issues not met, BJP will face the consequences'
The Centre on Tuesday notified a series of regulations aimed at addressing Ladakh's concerns over jobs and cultural preservation. The new legal framework introduces a domicile-based job reservation system, and talks of recognition of local languages and procedural clarity in civil service recruitment. However, it stops short of any safeguards regarding land, promise of a Legislature for the newly formed Union Territory, and extension of the Sixth Schedule of Constitution to Ladakh. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been spearheading some of these demands, speaks to The Indian Express on the new regulations. Excerpts: * What is your view regarding the regulations the government has announced? To put things in perspective, the notification is only a partial resolution of the third point on the agenda of the negotiations between Ladakh and the Government of India. It was highest in terms of urgency, but low on priority. There was a concern regarding unemployment and that has been addressed. But our main issues are safeguarding our land and culture through Sixth Schedule protections… and the restoration of democracy. Ladakh has no form of people's participation at the moment. People have always expected constitutional safeguards for this region. The BJP assured us of the Sixth Schedule in two elections – the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 2020 LAHDC (Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council) polls. It was part of their manifesto… People have expressed their displeasure by not electing the BJP in recent polls, and it will happen again if this issue is not addressed in the next talks that will be held in June and July. * The government notifications make no mention of land. This is only a partial resolution of our third point – of employment. It was mutually agreed by our leaders and the MHA (Union Ministry of Home Affairs) that they will first sort out the issue of employment of youth, and then issues of the Sixth Schedule and the rest would be taken up. But there is fear here as to what if the government just leaves things at this and doesn't take forward the main issues till the LAHDC elections. That will be a problem. So the coming two months are important (to gauge the government's sincerity). The next meeting (is expected to) discuss safeguards and democracy. If not, then the Hill Council elections will see an upheaval. … All Opposition parties have formally announced that if they (the government) resolve the main issues, they will offer the Hill Council elections on a platter to the BJP. But the reverse is also true: that if they do not address the main issue, they will face the consequences in the coming elections. * But you agree that the government has addressed the language and culture issue? That was never an issue. That was just mixed (in) as a feel-good factor. It was never demanded. At least it was not a part of the key issues. But it is a good step. * The demand from Ladakh was also for a 30-year-stay clause to get domicile. But the new regulations set this at 15 years. Yes. That is why I call it a partial resolution of our issues. People are not fully happy with the notifications. The demand was either 30 years or a cutoff date of 1989. But this issue will no longer figure in our negotiations. We hope that at the next two meetings, the real issues of safeguards and democracy will be taken up. Otherwise it will be a breach of trust and confidence. * Do you see the government's plans to open up Ladakh for the renewable energy industry as contrary to your demands regarding land safeguards? I always start with full hope and faith that the government will be sincere in its words and provide Sixth Schedule safeguards. As far as power projects and other industrial endeavours of national interest are concerned, it is the highest priority of Ladakhi people to be of use to the nation. Our only thing is it should be done in consultation with the people. The Sixth Schedule will not stop any important industrial project. It will only make Ladakhi people a partner in it. With the knowledge and wisdom they have about the land, it will be even better. But without the Sixth Schedule, people who know nothing about Ladakh are making big decisions. (For example) This big solar project without any consultation is earmarked at a place where the most precious Pashmina is produced. Those pastures will be gone. With public participation in such decisions, national interest will be served along with environmental protection. * Are you okay with the idea of no Sixth Schedule but similar protections? Yes, if these protections are based on the indigenous tribal identity of the local people. If they give similar protection or more, people will respond logically. But if you are ready to give all of those, why not the Sixth Schedule? * If the government gives you all the protections you are seeking but does not give you statehood or an Assembly, will that be acceptable? The Sixth Schedule and statehood are our main demands. Even if one of the two is given, it would be called progress. If both are denied, we will have to continue engaging in our struggle.
The Print
04-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
If Centre stops at job quota, it'll be serious breach of trust—Wangchuk reiterates Ladakhis' core demands
Speaking to ThePrint, Sonam Wangchuk said the notification addressed only 'the third and least important' of the core demands of Ladakhis, adding that if the Centre now stopped, it would be a 'serious breach of trust'. The central government on Tuesday released a notification , reserving 85% of all government jobs in Ladakh for locals, and a third of all seats in the hill councils for women on a rotational basis. New Delhi : Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk is among the prominent Ladakhi voices, terming the recently notified policies on domiciles, job reservations, the composition of hill councils, and the official languages of the Union Territory as 'only a partial resolution'. 'This is not a resolution of Ladakhi issues. It is only a partial resolution of the third and least important of our demands—youth employment. The core demands of statehood and the Sixth Schedule protections have not even come up for discussions yet.' 'People are confused and anxious, fearing the Centre would project the job reservations as the final solution. If that happens, it will be a serious breach of trust,' Sonam Wangchuk said. 'The Centre earlier assured us of taking only the first step towards resolving urgent issues now. If the notification is the only step, it, for sure, does not address the main demands, and the people of Ladakh will, in that case, feel cheated.' Speaking to ThePrint, Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, the president of Ladakh Buddhist Association and co-convener of Leh Apex Body, said, 'It is the best we could negotiate with the Centre for now. It met one of our key demands—85% job reservation for Ladakhis. But there is still confusion among people, which is why they are not celebrating yet.' 'Many wrongly believe that STs (Scheduled Tribes) from outside can claim benefits. We will hold a press conference to clear that up,' he added. On the other hand, calling the notification a 'welcome move', members of different hill councils said that the discussions on the remaining demands would take place at some later point. The notification also restricted the children of central government employees from becoming Ladakh 'domiciles' until they proved they had continuously lived in Ladakh for 15 years, starting 31 October 2019, or the day Ladakh became a UT. It also declared English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi as the UT's official languages. Also Read: Shivaji statue in Ladakh is part of an unfortunate trend. Indian Army must introspect Ladakhis wait & watch The Centre's notification, of course, is not all bad. It, after all, is the wind beneath the wings of the youth awaiting government action for a long time. 'The announcement brings relief for unemployed youth and understaffed departments, but even that is only partial,' Sonam Wangchuk said. 'We were hoping for a 30-year domicile cut-off, not 15 years, as notified all of a sudden.' According to Sonam Wangchuk, people are still willing to place trust in the Centre, but only if it keeps the promises of providing full democratic rights to Ladakhis and implementing the Sixth Schedule in the region, providing special provisions for the administration of the tribal areas. Sonam Wangchuk said that Ladakh's statehood and the Sixth Schedule protections were the top agendas in the BJP manifesto released before the 2020 elections to the hill councils in Ladakh—demands, so far, unfulfilled. Now, elections are again approaching, and if the BJP meets the two main demands before polling, all parties might withdraw from contesting. Sonam Wangchuk said that in the September elections, people would hand the hill councils over to the Centre on a platter if it sincerely addressed their main demands. 'Parties are saying the government can win—uncontested—in that case,' Sonam Wangchuk said. 'However, if the discussion ends with domicile, it will not be enough for the leadership or the people. In case the Centre sincerely pursues discussions on security and democracy, Ladakh will forever be grateful,' he added. How Ladakhis will eventually feel about the central government depends on what will happen next—the public is 'expecting real talks' to begin soon. 'If the real talks begin now, this is a welcome start. If not, people will respond through the next elections,' Sonam Wangchuk warned. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Who was Tsetan Namgyal, 'unsung hero' who served with the Indian Army in the 1962 war
