Sonam Wangchuk’s Climate Fast

Renowned social activist and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike in Ladakh’s Leh for 19 days, consuming only water and salt, demanding the inclusion of the territory in the 6th Schedule and statehood.

Despite his deteriorating health, Wangchuk received no attention from the central government; he is now joined by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

The organisation held demonstrations in Kargil on Mar 24 and started a three-day hunger strike.

Wangchuk, who gained fame through the Hindi film ‘3 Idiots’, went on a ‘Climate Fast’ from Mar 6 with the demands after talks failed between the Apex Body, Leh (ABL), and KDA with the union home ministry.

In addition, thousands from Ladakh are observing a symbolic fast with Wangchuk.

In a video posted on the X platform on Mar 24, Sonam Wangchuk said, “5000 people fasting with me today. Morning Temperature: - 4°C As nature seems to find no serious place in our parliaments & policy making, I'm sharing a crazy idea here. Voting rights to nature. It may sound weird, just as giving voting rights to women or blacks was unthinkable till about 100 years ago. The question is which country might start it first! Can it be India!?”

DAY 19 OF MY #CLIMATEFAST
5000 people fasting with me today. Morning Temperature: - 4 °C
As nature seems to find no serious place in our parliaments & policy making, I'm sharing a cray idea here.
Voting rights to nature.
It may sound weird, just as giving voting rights to… pic.twitter.com/Oa0xi66kzS

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 24, 2024

Wangchuk has gathered significant traction and support on social media.

Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike

Wangchuk claimed that the central government had broken its promise made to the Ladakhis four years ago. The central government had once promised to include Ladakh in the 6th schedule, which was included in its 2019 election manifesto.

But after delaying its implementation for four years, the central government finally denied its enactment on Mar 4.

Kargil Democratic Alliance’s (KDA) inclusion

More than 200 members of the KDA, along with corporators, local religious leaders, youth leaders, and social activists, reached Hussaini Park in Kargil on Mar 24 and sat on a hunger strike.

The demonstrators raised slogans such as “Restore democracy in Ladakh; bureaucratic rule is not acceptable”.

They are scheduled to continue their hunger strike in Leh and Kargil until Mar 29, after which the future strategy will be discussed.

KDA leader Sajjad Kargil appealed to the government to address the concerns of the people of Ladakh.