Leh, Oct 12, KNT: The Leh Apex Body has made a vehment appeal to the people of Ladakh to observe a hunger strike on October 13 in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk and his team, who have been on hunger strike for the past 10 days at Delhi’s Ladakh Bhavan.
Ladakh is demanding the implementation of a four-point agenda, which includes the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, statehood, a public service commission, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Chairman Leh Apex Body, Tsering Dorjey Lakruk as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust addressed a press conference in Leh, expressing concern over the health problems faced by those on hunger strike in Delhi. He emphasized that Ladakh has been facing difficult times, while New Delhi remains oblivious to their sufferings.
Lakruk appealed to the people to join the hunger strike to pressure the Indian government to resume dialogue.
Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist, began his indefinite hunger strike along with his supporters, demanding that the Centre resume talks on their demands. The protesters have not been approached by any government representative so far.
Wangchuk stressed that the people of Ladakh have worked for India’s security without a uniform or salary and deserve to be heard.
The Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance have been spearheading the agitation for Ladakh’s Sixth Schedule status and statehood for the past four years. [KNT]
