In anticipation of Sonam Wangchuk’s scheduled ‘Pashmina March’ or ‘Border March’ on April 7, the District Magistrate of Leh has enforced Section 144 in the region.
Responding to the directive, Wangchuk voiced his dismay, stating, “PEACEFUL LADAKH IS VERY CONFUSED!”
The order prohibits processions, rallies, or marches in the area prior to Wangchuk’s march, which aims to advocate for Ladakh’s statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. This inclusion would help safeguard the ecologically fragile region from exploitative industries.
Wangchuk, who recently underwent a 21-day fast solely on salt and water for the cause, expressed his reaction through a video. He questioned why, after 31 days of peaceful prayers and fasting, the administration suddenly perceives peace initiatives as more threatening than anything else.
Furthermore, Wangchuk highlighted that local police are hindering people from other villages from joining the ‘peaceful’ demonstration in Leh. He also mentioned that supporters of the cause are being detained ahead of the ‘Pashmina March’ and coerced into signing bonds.
Wangchuk believes that the local administration’s confusion about the march’s agenda is transforming a peaceful event into something perceived as ‘dangerous,’ deterring potential supporters from participating. He warned that if this isn’t confusion on the part of the administration, then “India is turning into a Banana Republic.”
Wangchuk announced plans to provide an update on the situation on Friday night.
In 2019, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda pledged to take necessary constitutional steps to protect Ladakh. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) recommended declaring Ladakh a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule to Home Minister Amit Shah and Munda in September 2019.
However, Wangchuk lamented that the government has not only failed to fulfill its promise but also refuses to provide a justification for its inaction. He emphasized that after four years of neglecting their demands, the government bluntly refused during a meeting on March 4. Wangchuk asserted that the people of Ladakh would now hold them accountable for the promises made during the last general elections.
Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March, Wangchuk has organized the ‘border march’ on April 7 to highlight “destruction in the name of development.”
