The climate activist had set off on the march from Leh on September 1 to be in Delhi on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti
GUWAHATI: Delhi Police have detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and around 150 protesters at the Singhu Border on Monday, September 30, citing prohibitory orders in effect until October 6. They have launched an indefinite fast at police stations where they have been kept.
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Wangchuk's group was part of the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra,' a march that began from Leh on September 1, aiming to present demands for Ladakh's statehood and other key issues to the central government.
As the group reached the Delhi border, the police acted to prevent their entry into the city, citing an order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora. This order tallied with the state's recent imposition of restricting gatherings of more than five people in areas near Delhi's borders during Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.
I AM BEING DETAINED...
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 30, 2024
along with 150 padyatris
at Delhi Border, by a police force of 100s some say 1,000.
Many elderly men & women in their 80s and few dozen Army veterans...
Our fate is unknown.
We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi... in the largest democracy… pic.twitter.com/iPZOJE5uuM
Wanchuk took to X to express his dismay, stating, "I AM BEING DETAINED… along with 150 padyatris at the Delhi Border… Many elderly men & women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans… We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi… in the largest democracy in the world.”
The march's primary aim was to urge the central government to resume dialogue on Ladakh’s four-point agenda: statehood, the extension of the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, timely recruitment processes with a public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
The prohibitory orders also come in the wake of heightened communal tensions, upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, and local elections in Delhi. Rajghat and other key areas are under tight security for the moment.
Following the detention, a plea for Wangchuk's release was mentioned at the Delhi High Court, although its urgent hearing was declined. Besides seeking the release of those detained, it also requested directions for permitting the Ladakhi activists to enter Delhi "for the purpose of raising their demands peacefully".
Unacceptable: Rahul Gandhi
Calling the detention “unacceptable,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that the latter “will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice.” “Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future?” He addressed the situation on X, formerly Twitter.
