New Delhi, India

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was recently detained by police on reaching the Singhu border of India's national capital while leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, sat on an indefinite hunger strike in Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday evening (Oct. 6) while raising the demand of resumption of talks with the government.

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Wangchuk and the other protesters had sought permission to continue their protest at Jantar Mantar and raise their demand for the inclusion of the union territory under the Sixth Schedule status.

However, they were denied permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, after which they decided to find another venue.

While interacting with media personnel, Wangchuk said that they had failed to find any venue to stage a protest and hence, decided to start their hunger strike from Ladakh Bhavan where they have been putting up since the last few days. 

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Also Read: Who is Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh activist detained in Delhi for 36 hours?

"We were seeking a place where we could hold our peaceful hunger strike but we weren't given that place. So we had no option but to begin (a hunger strike) from Ladakh Bhavan where we were virtually detained... The assurance that we were given to meet the top leadership of the country, we haven't been given any dates for that so we were forced to start our hunger strike again, which we broke on Rajghat..," said Wangchuk, while speaking to media. 

"Our appeal has always been the same - after walking for 30 to 32 days, we have come here and would like to meet some of the top leaders of our country in the capital to share our grievances with them," he added.

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Wangchuk says 'protest will continue' till demands met 

Nearly 18 people, including activist Wangchuk, sat near the gate of the Ladakh Bhavan and raised slogans like “Save Ladakh, Save Himalaya”, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Ladakh” amid deployment of heavy police personnel.

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Wangchuk had led 'Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, which started in Leh and was organised by Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance. 

For the last four years, the protesters have been demanding Ladakh's statehood, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts and a public service commission for Ladakh.

Also Read: India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk released from detention; to meet PM Modi or president soon

When Wangchuk reached the national capital's border, he was detained along with the other protesters for violating prohibitory orders.

Informing about the detention on X, Wangchuk wrote, "I AM BEING DETAINED... along with 150 padyatris at Delhi border by a police force of hundreds... some say 1,000. Many elderly men and women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans... Our fate is unknown."

Speaking to WION, Wangchuk said that he and the protesters were "not at all" expecting such a welcome in the national capital amid their peaceful protest. 

He said this hunger strike "will continue" till their demands are met and added that all they want is to "resume the talks" with the government.

He had ended his hunger strike at Rajghat on October 2 after he was assured that he would meet the country’s senior leaders to discuss the demands by October 4. However, after the officials failed to give any specific date to Wangchuk, he decided to again go on a fast.