LEH: Award winning Climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk and Leh Apex Body (LAB) have decided to call off the proposed ‘Pashmina March’ on Sunday after the Ladakh Lt Governor’s administration initiated measures on Saturday to block the event.
“In view of the developments and the fact that the whole nation now knows about the reality of our pasture lands at the borders, the leaders of the apex body today decided to call off the Pashmina March on 7th April. The ongoing peaceful fast will however continue. We thank all the leaders and people who came here from different parts of the country,” the LAB and Sonam Wangchuk said in a joint statement on Saturday.
At a press conference on Saturday evening, they said the purpose of the ‘Pashmina March’ was to highlight the plight of the Changpa nomadic tribes, who are losing thousands of square kilometres of their land “due to Chinese incursion in the north and our own corporates in the south”.
“This purpose seems already fulfilled even before the march began due to the suppression attempts and over-reaction of the government,” the statement said.
Sonam Wangchuk took to social media and posted a video of the press conference in which leaders of the LAB were also present on his handled on X.
In the past 24 hours, the L-G’s administration announced prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in Leh to disallow any assembly without permission, curtailed Internet speed and rounded up supporters of Wangchuk.
“Under these circumstances, chances of violence are very high, which could then be used to label this peaceful movement anti-national,” it added.
Earlier in the day, Wangchuk, spearheading a peaceful struggle for Ladakh’s Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, termed the situation as “grim” in the region.
Leh turned into a war zone ahead of border march, said Wangchuk and announced on his social media handle X.
“Leh is being turned into a war zone with disproportionate force, barricades, and smoke grenades. There is a lot of fear. The situation could go out of control,” Sonam Wangchuk said.
He accused the L-G’s administration of forcing youth and activists, including singers, to “sign bonds or face arrests”. “There have only been peaceful protests in the past 32 days in Leh. The move to impose Section 144 is only if there is fear of bloodshed. We have been peaceful all along,” he said.
Wangchuk expressed his resentment with the latest government circulars that have directions for teargas shells and smoke grenades to be allotted to security forces in riot gear to stop the march.
“Why is the government shaken by our protests? National security strategists have been highlighting the sensitivity of the region. However, this government neither bothers about national security nor peoples’ interest. Hurting local interests is not in national interest. Our protest is only to remind the government of its promises,” Wangchuk said.
“The government seems worried only about Ladakh’s effects on their votes and on corporate mining lobbies,” he said.
He urged the supporters across the country to hold protests at their respective places and devote all Sundays to ‘Rashtriya Ke Naam’ to ensure one sees an India that keeps its promise.
Yesterday, Wangchuk posted on social media platform X, “PEACEFUL LADAKH IS VERY CONFUSED! After 31 days of extremely peaceful prayers & fasts… Suddenly peace initiatives of the administration sounds more dangerous than anything!
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