CPI (M) staged protest at DC Office Shimla against arrest of Sonam Wangchuk
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Shimla District Committee staged a vigorous protest at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Shimla, against the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk. The protest was addressed by Party District Secretary Vijendra Mehra, Jagmohan Thakur, Balak Ram, and Anil Thakur. They strongly condemned the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk, who has been a leading figure in the movement demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. His detention under the harsh National Security Act exposes the authoritarian character of the BJP-led central government and its disregard for the genuine aspirations of the people of Ladakh.
Instead of fulfilling the promises made to the people of Ladakh, the government has resorted to repressive measures to crush the democratic movement there. This is a severe attack on the fundamental rights and democratic freedoms of the people of Ladakh. Such actions will further deepen the alienation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh.
They demanded the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk, the unconditional withdrawal of all cases imposed on the people, the full protection of democratic and constitutional rights, the immediate acceptance of the justified demands of the movement, and above all, the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. They strongly condemned the brutal repression inflicted on the people of Ladakh by the Union Territory administration. This violent action has resulted in the tragic death of four people and left many others injured.
For the past six years, the people of Ladakh have been demanding statehood with a fully empowered legislature and the inclusion of the region in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This would grant them the constitutional protections and benefits enjoyed by the people of several northeastern states. The BJP-led central government has consistently ignored these demands for rights.
Frustrated by the government’s indifference to their legitimate demands over the past three years and its failure to address these concerns through several rounds of talks, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and other public organizations began a 15-day peaceful hunger strike. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, the central government chose the path of forcibly arresting the hunger strikers, leading to widespread public anger and unrest. Despite being responsible for creating the situation that led to this violence in a traditionally peaceful place, the central government is now blaming the protesters. They urged the central government to immediately cease all repressive measures and engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the movement.
