Bring Ladakh under ambit of Constitution Sixth Schedule, says Wangchuk
“We have chosen the path of Gandhi to raise awareness among masses to save the Himalayas and our resources,” said Sonam Wangchuk, a 58-year-old innovator and engineer, while addressing mediapersons in Chandigarh today.
Wangchuk embarked on a foot-march from Leh, Ladakh, on September 1. He plans to reach Rajghat in Delhi on the Mahatma Gandhi’s’ birth anniversary which falls on October 2.
Accompanied by 100 people that include 20 ex-servicemen, Wangchuk has been demanding that Ladakh be brought under the ambit of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution which has the autonomous mechanism for governance.
“This was promised to us in a manifesto by the present government before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. We do not have a problem with Ladakh after it was declared as a Union Territory by the Centre. Rather, we want our voices to be heard for which a legislature is also necessary,” he said.
“I am an 80-year-old ex-Army man. For most part of my life, I have seen Ladakh in pristine natural conditions. But from the past 20 to 25 years, we have been facing environmental issues. The pollution is on the rise. The resources at our disposal are being exploited by everyone,” said Sonam Wangdus, sitting inside langar hall of the Sector 38 gurdwara with feet bandaged due to blisters.
“It is not just about us, but concerns everyone. Rivers which make the plains fertile originate from Himalayas itself,” said Rigzin Wangdus, a 67-year-old farmer.
Wangchuk said they avoided marching through Kashmir due to ongoing elections. He said they would also be avoiding Haryana which would soon go to polls. “We do not want to get involved in the local politics,” he said.
Seminar at PU
Sonam Wangchuk, 58-year-old innovator, engineer and climate activist, on his way to Delhi’s Rajghat on foot to raise awareness on saving Himalayas and demanding inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, would hold a discussion with the youth during a seminar at an auditorium of Dr SS Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Panjab University at 12 pm on Saturday.
