Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for four days, shared that a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) visited him last night to express support and provided herbal mosquito repellent. Wangchuk stated on X that the individual, who identified himself as associated with the RSS and close to the BJP, chose to stay away from the gate to avoid being captured on CCTV. He relayed that the supporter expressed sympathy for the people of Ladakh but felt unable to openly show support.
Wangchuk also mentioned that BJP leader Naresh had conveyed a special message from Murli Manohar Joshi, indicating that individuals could rise above party affiliations and religions when it comes to justice, emphasizing their ability to differentiate between right and wrong.
Despite this gesture of support, another protester noted that they had not yet received any communication from the government. “Our protest is continuing. This morning, several members had low blood pressure,” the protester told .
Wangchuk and his supporters marched from Leh to Delhi to demand the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. They were detained at the Singhu border by Delhi Police on September 30 and released on the night of October 2. Their demands include a meeting with top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the establishment of statehood for Ladakh, the formation of a public service commission, and separate Lok Sabha seats for the Leh and Kargil districts.
The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the administration of tribal areas in northeastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, establishing autonomous councils with legislative, judicial, executive, and financial powers for self-governance. The protest is organized by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which have been leading the agitation for these demands.
