Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 21-day hunger strike on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024. He was protesting in Leh, Ladakh, demanding two main things:
- Statehood for Ladakh
- Inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (which grants special rights to certain tribal communities)
While he ended his hunger strike, Wangchuk emphasized that this is just the first phase of the movement. He vowed to continue the fight for Ladakh’s rights. Here are some additional details:
- He urged people of Ladakh to vote carefully in the upcoming elections.
- Women’s groups in Ladakh have taken over the protest by starting a 10-day hunger strike.
- Wangchuk hinted that the cycle of hunger strikes might continue with other groups like youth and Buddhist monks joining in.
It’s important to note that Sonam Wangchuk has garnered significant support during his hunger strike. There were around 7,000 people gathered when he ended his fast.