Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk plans ‘Pashmina March’ on Sunday: Find key details here
District Magistrate Santosh Sukhdeva has imposed Section 144 in the Leh district, restricting any sort of processions, rallies and marches, ahead of prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk‘s planned ‘Pashmina March’ on Sunday.
The engineer-turned-educational reformist has been raising serious concerns over climate change in the sensitive Himalayan region, in addition to demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
These directions have been issued in Leh:
a. No procession/rally/March etc shall be taken out by anyone without the prior approval of the District Magistrate, Leh, in writing.
b. No one shall use the vehicle mounted or other loudspeakers without prior approval from the competent authority.
c. No public gathering, without the prior approval of the competent authority shall be allowed.
d. No one shall make any statement, which has potential to disturb the communal harmony, public tranquility and which may lead to law and order problem in the district.
e. All the person shall ensure that they follow the model code of conduct and that all the activities are according to the law.
Climate activist’s Pashmina March in limelight
Taking to X to highlight his planned border march, Wangchuk noted: “Come if you must, but ideally by 5th and no later than 6th April, for acclimatisation … The weather is bit warmer now and guesthouses are also opening up. Do please coordinate with #FriendsOfLadakah.”
The activist recently ended on a 21-day hunger strike. The women then took over the baton on March 27 to hold protest against the alleged inaction of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government towards their demands, reported Mint.
Sonam Wangchuk adopting Gandhian approach
Furthermore, The Hindu reported that the planned ‘Pashmina March’ on Sunday is expected to highlight shrinking grazing lands in the ecologically fragile region and notable threats emerging from big Indian industrialists and China, according to him.
Sonam Wangchuk and his team is adopting the Gandhian approach in their protest. “We are followers of Gandhi’s Satyagraha. We are demanding the fulfilment of the promises made to us by this government through its manifestos,” PTI has quoted the activist as saying.
