Ladakh native, engineer and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who began his hunger strike on March 6, demanding that the region be given statehood, ended his 21-day hunger strike on Tuesday.
Wangchuk was surviving on water and salt. He was reportedly joined by 350 people in the fast, in the temperatures that dropped down to a whooping -10 degrees Celsius.
Wangchuk, an engineer and education reformer from Ladakh, is demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule implementation for Ladakh. He said that the Sixth Schedule ensures land protection and autonomy for tribal areas.
He alleged that they are losing their rich pasture land to huge industrial plants in the south and Chinese encroachment in the north. He said that to show it, they are planning a Border March of 10,000 Ladakhi shepherds and farmers soon.
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Wangchuk further demands separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, job opportunities for locals, and the establishment of a Public Service Commission for Leh and Kargil districts in Ladakh. He also raised concerns about environmental damage caused by industrialisation. He strongly criticised the government for imposing a 13-gigawatt project on the region without consulting the local people.
Despite the sentiments of the protesters, Wangchuk said that he would end his strike only after his health improved. He said that local people would take turns to go on hunger strikes until he regains sufficient strength to fast again.
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