A 21 day hunger strike was carried out by Ladakh’s local activist Sonam Wangchuk demanding statehood and constitutional rights for the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. A peaceful march was to be held on 7th April 2024 called the “Pashmina March”, which was then cancelled after the imposition of Section 144 in Leh
Wangchuk, who had previously undertaken a 21-day hunger strike to draw attention towards the issues faced by the Ladakhis, called for the “Pashmina march” on April 7 2024 in order to raise awareness regarding the loss in the traditional grazing lands due to encroachment. The peaceful march towards the Indo-China border quickly gained pace and popularity, and approximately 10,000 Ladakhis were expected to join the march and assess the loss of land in person.
The Pashmina March was to be undertaken along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in order to demand statehood for Ladakh and raise concerns about the climate crisis in Ladakh. This came after the allegations of encroachment on grazing areas by both Indian Government and Chinese influences.
“To those insisting on coming to Leh to join this March…Come if you must, but ideally by 5th & no later than 6th April, for acclimatisation etc. I’m finally able to say this as the weather is bit warmer now & guesthouses are also opening up. Do please coordinate with #FriendsOfLadakh,” Wangchuk tweeted.
However, The District Magistrate invoked Section 144 ahead of the “border march” in order to “ensure peace”, as stated by the Leh District Magistrate. This law prevents the gathering of four or more individuals in order to maintain peace and harmony in the land, and had additionally ordered a temporary reduction in internet speeds to 2G for 24 hours from 6 pm Saturday.
As per the new order, the following directions were issued:
1. No procession/rally/march etc shall be taken out by anyone without the prior approval of the District Magistrate, Leh, in writing.
2. No one shall use the vehicle mounted or other loudspeaker without prior approval from the competent authority.
3. No public gathering, without the prior approval of the competent authority shall be allowed.
4. No one shall make any statement, which has potential to disturb the communal harmony, public tranquillity and which may lead to law and order problem in the district.
5. All the person shall ensure that they follow the model code of conduct and that all the activities are according to the law.
These actions were announced after the government’s concern over maintaining the communal harmony and safety of its citizens. However, Wangchuk was unhappy with the “govt’s overreaction”. He called off the march and took to the platform X to express his concerns
“Leh is being turned into a war zone with disproportionate force, barricades, smoke grenades,” Sonam Wangchuk said in a post on X.
This tweet gathered over 1.9 million views on the X platform and urged the people to continue to support the demands of the Ladakhi people.
