‘Failure to protect Ladakh today, will risk losing invaluable heritage tomorrow’
Yash Khajuria
Leh, Sept 09: In a firm rebuttal to mounting speculations, prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday dismissed claims that his ongoing movement is politically motivated, emphasizing that his primary goal is to secure constitutional safeguards for Ladakh and protect the broader Himalayan region.
Wangchuk’s remarks come as he embarks on a 1,000-kilometer “Delhi Chalo Padyatra,” aiming to bring the neglected issues of Ladakh into the national spotlight.
Speaking at a virtual press conference accompanied by 75 volunteers, Wangchuk stressed that his march is a peaceful and non-political initiative, driven solely by environmental and cultural concerns. “This is not about politics. It’s about preserving Ladakh and the entire Himalayan ecosystem,” he said. Wangchuk also voiced apprehension over the union government’s recent announcement of five new districts in Ladakh, a decision some have hailed as a victory but which Wangchuk deems insufficient without constitutional backing.
“The creation of new districts might seem like progress, but without constitutional guarantees under the Sixth Schedule, this move could be as hollow as Ladakh’s Union Territory status, which came without a legislative framework,” Wangchuk cautioned. The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, a key demand of Wangchuk’s movement, provides special protections for tribal areas, ensuring the preservation of land, resources, and cultural identity—safeguards that he argues are essential for Ladakh’s survival.
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides autonomy to tribal areas, ensuring control over local resources, land, and cultural heritage. This has been the cornerstone of Wangchuk’s demands, who fears that without such protections, Ladakh’s unique identity and fragile ecosystem will be at risk.
Wangchuk’s movement gained widespread attention earlier this year when he staged a “climate fast,” a non-confrontational demonstration to draw attention to Ladakh’s environmental crisis. Despite some interpretations of the fast as anti-government, Wangchuk stressed today that his activism is driven by concerns for Ladakh’s future, not by opposition to the central government.
“I have always maintained that our movement is not anti-government,” he said. “It is about urging the government to fulfill its responsibility towards Ladakh. I still have high hopes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and believe that our demands will eventually be addressed.”
However, Wangchuk acknowledged that Ladakh’s pleas have thus far fallen on deaf ears. He pointed to a memorandum that was handed to Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Dras for the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, noting that the region has yet to receive a response.
The activist’s latest push comes at a time when negotiations between Ladakhi leaders and the central government have largely stalled. Home Minister Amit Shah’s outright rejection of Ladakh’s demand for Sixth Schedule inclusion earlier this year dealt a significant blow to the movement, but Wangchuk remains undeterred.
“Ladakh’s ecosystem is too delicate, and its cultural identity too valuable, to be compromised. We cannot give up now,” Wangchuk declared. His march, he added, is not just about Ladakh—it’s about preserving the entire Himalayan region’s environment, which he believes is under existential threat.
“If we fail to protect Ladakh today, we risk losing the invaluable heritage and resources of the entire Himalayan range tomorrow,” he cautioned, tying his local activism to a broader environmental cause.
While some political and social groups have celebrated the government’s creation of five new districts, Wangchuk urged restraint. He argued that without the Sixth Schedule’s legal framework, these administrative changes offer only short-term relief and do not address Ladakh’s core issues.
“It is premature to celebrate,” he remarked. “The Sixth Schedule ensures that local communities have control over their resources, land, and culture. Without it, any new administrative structures may fail to protect Ladakh’s unique character.”
