After arrest of Sonam Wangchuk and Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa Jan, opposition rallies support for activist – India TV

Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa Jan and supporters of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk were arrested at Singhu border on Tuesday and taken to Narela police station. Wangchuk and his hundreds of supporters are already in police custody. Wanghcuk and his supporters had marched on the state capital demanding status of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule.

“For three years we have expressed our concerns very peacefully. Several rounds of talks were also held with the government. We hoped that the talks would continue after the formation of the new government, but that did not happen. ” the deputy said before his arrest.

“We set out on foot from Leh under the banner of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the apex body with the hope that we would present our views to the central government in the state capital and our concerns would be heard. But unfortunately Sonam Wangchuk” and his team were arrested yesterday. We request the government to provide us with a venue from where we can submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Modi or hold talks with the leadership to resolve this issue,” he added.

Delhi CM meets Wangchuk

Reacting to the detention of Wangchuk and his supporters, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said she would meet Wangchuk at the police station.

“I will go to Bawana police station at 1pm today to meet Sonam Wangchuk. Sonam Wangchuk and our 150 Ladakhi brothers and sisters arrived peacefully in Delhi. The police stopped them. They have been detained at Bawana police station since last night. ” she posted on X.

Detention of Wangchuk and other Ladakhis unacceptable: Rahul Gandhi

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other Ladakhis as “unacceptable” and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must listen to Ladakh’s voice. “The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis who are peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

KDA and Leh Apex Body call for Ladakh Bandh

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body, Leh, on Tuesday called for a Ladakh gang to protest against the detention of Wangchuk. Most shops across Ladakh were closed as residents demanded Wangchuk’s release. Meanwhile, they also reiterated their continued call for the Sixth Schedule to uphold the region’s rights.

In his post, Wangchuk said several vehicles of Delhi Police and its counterpart in Haryana accompanied their buses. As they approached the state capital, they initially thought they were being escorted, but it was clear they would be arrested. “As we approach Delhi, it looks like we are not being escorted but detained,” Wangchuk said.

He said around 1,000 police personnel were deployed at the Delhi border and they were informed that there was heavy deployment of security forces at Ladakh Bhawan in Delhi and in areas where students from the Union Territory lived.

(With agency input)