‘Feel Sad For India Today’, Says Sonam Wangchuk As Protesters Detained by Delhi Police During Silent Fast

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday criticised the Centre and the Delhi Police for detaining protesters who had gathered outside Ladakh Bhawan to hold a silent fast. Authorities cited the imposition of Section 144, which prohibits gatherings in certain areas to maintain public order, as the reason for the intervention.

Expressing his dismay, Sonam Wangchuk said, “This morning we were about to start a silent fast outside the Ladakh Bhawan in New Delhi. A lot of people were gathering here to participate in this, we said that we would not raise any slogan and would hold a silent fast only, yet the people were removed forcefully, they were put into police buses and detained. We were told that it happened because Section 144 promulgated here. This was sad, not only for us but for the Democracy too. We feel sad for India today,” he said.

He emphasised that in a democratic country, the inability to express oneself constitutes a violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and movement. “In this democratic country if people can’t express themselves it is a violation of their freedom of speech, freedom of movement, Article 19. Normally 144 is temporary in nature and is applied only in reasonable grounds of fear of disruption,” said Wangchuk.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court issued a notice seeking responses from the Delhi Police, the Government of NCT Delhi, and other respondents on a plea filed by the Apex Body Leh. The plea requested permission for Wangchuk and others to hold a peaceful protest or fast at Jantar Mantar from October 8 to October 23, 2024.

A bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma directed the parties to submit their replies by October 16, 2024, with a detailed hearing scheduled for October 22, 2024.

The Apex Body Leh approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, seeking permission for Wangchuk and other ‘Padyatris’ to hold a peaceful protest (Anshan) at Jantar Mantar or another suitable location. The plea asserts that this is a fundamental right under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Indian Constitution, which protect free speech and peaceful assembly.

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Earlier on Sunday, Wangchuk launched an indefinite hunger strike to highlight the region’s demand for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Wangchuk and his supporters are advocating for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, seeking inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. They believe this would empower the local population to protect their land and cultural identity, a demand backed by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).