IndiaLadakh(Leh)Union Territories

Sonam Wangchuk of Ladakh says that she has been put under house arrest because of her climate fast.

Sonam Wangchuk, a Ladakhi leader, said on Saturday that he had been put under house arrest at his institute and was not allowed to go to Khardung La by the police. This was a day before the end of his five-day climate fast.

Wangchuk also showed a copy of the bond that the Ladakh administration gave him. The bond said that he couldn’t say anything about the recent events in Leh district, make any public comments or speeches, or hold or take part in public gatherings. The bond also told him that he could only fast on his own property.

“Under the sixth schedule of Article 244 of the Indian Constitution, I have called for a five-day climate fast to save and protect the Himalayas, the glaciers, Ladakh, and the people who live there. I was told at first that the police were there to protect me, so I didn’t think anything else of it,” Wangchuk said in a video on Twitter.

Senior Superintendent of Police in Leh, P D Nitya, told PTI that the charges were not true. He said, “He (Wangchuk) was not given permission by the administration to hold a five-day fast at Khardung La pass, where temperatures drop below minus 40 degrees Celsius. Moving to the place was dangerous for him and his followers, so he was asked to keep the fast at his Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) campus.

The CPM also criticised the government, saying that Wangchuk couldn’t talk about putting the Union Territory on Schedule 6 of the Constitution because he was under house arrest.

“‘3 Idiots’ was based on the life of Sonam Wangchuk, who won the Magsaysay Award. He started a campaign to protect what makes Ladakh special, and now he is stuck at home! Can’t talk about Schedule 6 or the risks of climate change, and can’t talk about Republic Day! Sitaram Yechury, the General Secretary of the CPI(M), called it “reprehensible” in a tweet.

Wangchuk, who was the inspiration for the main character in the movie “3 Idiots,” started his five-day climate fast on January 26 on top of Khardung La, where the temperature drops to -40 degrees Celsius, to bring the needs of the people of Ladakh to the attention of the Centre. Among the demands was an extension of the Constitution’s sixth schedule and protection of the environment from unchecked industrial and commercial growth in the Union Territory. Last week, he also said that protecting the environment is the most important thing in Ladakh, where two-thirds of the glaciers are gone.

With inputs from PTI

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Nisha

Hi, my name is Nisha and I'm an educational journalist based in India. I've always been passionate about the power of education to transform lives, and that's what led me to pursue a career in journalism focused on this area. I completed my Bachelor's degree in English from Hindu College in Delhi in 2013 and then went on to earn my Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in 2017. During my studies, I also completed several short-term courses on Education in India, Sociology, and other related subjects to deepen my knowledge in this field. I'm particularly interested in improving access to quality education in rural areas, where students often face significant challenges. I've worked on a number of initiatives to address this issue, including advocating for better policies, resources, and practices that can make a difference. As an educational journalist, I'm passionate about using my platform to highlight important issues in the education space. I've covered a wide range of topics, including the impact of technology in the classroom, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and the challenges facing students from marginalized communities. One of the things I love most about my work is the opportunity to constantly learn and grow. I'm an avid reader and believe that reading is key to expanding one's knowledge and perspective. I'm always seeking out new ideas and insights to help me better understand the world around me. In summary, as an educational journalist, I'm dedicated to using my skills and expertise to make a positive impact in the field of education. I'm committed to improving access to quality education for all students and to using my platform to raise awareness about important issues in this area.

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