Kargil , Mar 13: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday voiced support for the demand of full statehood for Ladakh, asserting that the government should leave its stubbornness and listen to the voice of the people.
The Congress General Secretary shared on X a video of prominent social-environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk joined by people who is on a 21-day climate fast for last eight days in Leh. He is demanding constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule for Ladakh and restoration of democratic process in Ladakh.
In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, “The BJP had promised the people of Ladakh to give full statehood but did not fulfill it. On the one hand there is increasing Chinese occupation and on the other hand there is the silence, broken promises and betrayal of the BJP government — the trust of the people of Ladakh is breaking.”
Amidst repeated protests, Ladakh’s educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk along with dozens of people has been fasting for eight days in minus 15 degrees temperature, she said.
“Today the people of Ladakh are demanding full statehood and security under the 6th Schedule, which is the duty of the government to fulfill,” she said.
The Government should leave its “stubbornness” and listen to the voice of the people of Ladakh, Priyanka Gandhi said.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Sonam Wangchuk expressed happiness over the support shown by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and expressed gratitude to every citizen of the country who is supporting the cause. ” I am grateful to her ( Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) for showing support. I am happy with everyone be it a citizen of this country or any political party or leader who support our demands and concerns.”
Notably, Sonam Wangchuk is the Ladakh-based environmental activist and Ramon Magsasay award winner whose life inspired a pivotal character in the Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots. He is on a fast for the last eight days in freezing sub-zero temperatures to highlight the region’s vulnerability to climate change, and its link to rights accorded in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Wangchuk had announced to go on fast in protest against the failure of talks between LAB and KDA leaders recently with the central government who are seeking full statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule besides a Public service commission for Ladakh and separate parliament seats for Leh and Kargil districts. Wangchuk earlier last year had held similar climate fast to press for the region’s environmental safeguards and democratic rights for Ladakh.