Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday (August 08, 2025), while reiterating the demand for inclusion of Ladakh in the state status and the area, said that they are ready to carry forward their movement and can march again till Delhi again if necessary.

Wangchuk will start a three -day fast in Kargil from Saturday (August 09, 2025) with his demands. Wangchuk said in an interview to ‘PTI-language’ before starting the fast under the banner of Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Saturday, that it is being talked about giving state status for Jammu and Kashmir, but Ladakh has been ignored.

No date for next meeting declared

Wangchuk, who was awarded the Magasayasay Award, regretted that the talks of the Ladakh groups with the Ministry of Home Affairs were stuck again, as no date of the next meeting has been announced. The Ladakh group consists of members of the KDA and Leh Apex Body (LAB).

He said, ‘I am saying this with sadness, the talks are very delayed. There has been only twice in the last eight months. Wangchuk said that discussion on main issues, sixth schedule and state status has not started yet. The climate activist said that due to the delay, there is dissatisfaction among the people in Ladakh and since the Dalai Lama is currently in Leh, it was decided that the protest would be held in Kargil.

Will travel to Delhi

He said, ‘The leaders said that at this time there are revered Dalai Lama in Ladakh. Therefore, as long as they exist, we should not protest, there should not be instability. That is why the leaders of Kargil are raising this issue. Wangchuk said that he still hopes that the government will understand their suffering and pay attention to their demands. If required, they are ready to march several times till Delhi.

Wangchuk said, ‘We have no intention of coming to Delhi again, but if it continues, if there is no democracy, then we will have to take such steps. A long hunger strike of five-six weeks can take place. Even if we have to come to Delhi ten times from Leh, we will do this. The world should see how difficult it is to walk on Gandhi’s path.

BJP had promised

Wangchuk said, “Therefore it is possible that this time we come in September and reach Delhi again on October 2.” He insisted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had an election promise during the last elections of the Sixth Schedule Hill Council and it should be fulfilled. The issue of giving state status to Jammu and Kashmir is being talked about, but Ladakh has been released.

Wangchuk said, ‘State status is the basis of democracy. When Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh separated, both were democratic states. Therefore, both should get state status. It is difficult for the people of Ladakh to live in the border area, yet they are standing shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Army. There is no war in which the people of Ladakh have not played an important role.

Such a step for the benefit of some companies

Wangchuk said, ‘I think it is very short -sighted. Some leaders are doing this for the benefit of some companies with narrow approaches, but this will cause a lot of disadvantage to the country, which can unfortunately affect our security. In the context of the sixth schedule, he said that more than 95 percent of the population of Ladakh is of tribes.

He said that after making Ladakh a union territory, the infrastructure has improved there. However, local people say that there has been development on the other side of the Indo-China border, but without independence, development is meaningless. Wangchuk said, ‘People say that there has been a lot of progress and development. With progress I mean roads are built.

Not just money and development

He said, “On the other hand it also says that how can people be happy only with money and development? Is there less growth in China? There has also been a lot of development, but are the people of Tibet happy, no. Wangchuk said, “If the people of Ladakh are excluded and Ladakh is developed, it will become a gold cage.”

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