New Delhi:
Delhi Police’s detention of local weather activist Sonam Wangchuk – on the Singhu border Monday evening, whereas his supporters and he have been marching to the nationwide capital – has led to rigidity within the Union Territory of Ladakh, the place he’s main a struggle to safeguard the native ecology.
This morning practically two dozen protesters mounted crude blockades – together with sticks mounted throughout upturned visitors cones – on Nationwide Freeway 1, about six km from the city of Fiang.
The blockades have reportedly trapped vacationers, together with these from overseas. The scenario in-between these blockades is known to be tense however calm, for now. Visuals present not less than protesters gathered behind a blockade, with about 100 vehicles and 50 vans parked behind them.
“We’re caught on NH1 (as a consequence of protests) by supporters of the activist Sonam Wangchuk… they’ve positioned numerous blockades on the freeway. They aren’t letting anybody move… round 200-300 folks caught,” Phillipe Geelhand, a vacationer caught on the freeway, advised EDNBOX by way of a cellphone name.
Picture shared by Phillipe Geelhand
Mr Geelhand stated a bunch of 20-30 overseas vacationers, who had visited the monastery in Fiang this morning, needed to stroll again to Leh, which is about 15 km away, as a result of the automobiles weren’t allowed to move. The vacationers additionally needed to go away a few of their luggage and belongings within the vehicles.
“The temper is at present calm however tense. You are feeling {that a} small spark can deteriorate the scenario very quickly…” Mr Geelhand stated, noting that industrial automobiles had been blocked too.
He stated the variety of automobiles caught on the blockade level has not elevated as vehicles and vans have been being stopped at earlier checkpoints. “Solely army automobiles are allowed to cross,” he stated.
“It is quiet however tenses every time a automobile approaches,” Mr Geelhand advised EDNBOX.
Sonam Wangchuk Detained
Greater than 100 folks, together with Mr Wangchuk, have been strolling to Delhi to induce the federal government to renew dialogue over calls for that embody itemizing Ladakh within the Sixth Schedule of the Structure, which supplies safety and autonomy to sure tribal areas that helps higher handle sources.
READ | Delhi Police Detain Local weather Activist Sonam Wangchuk At Singhu Border
They have been detained Monday evening for violating prohibitory orders.
Mr Wangchuk additionally shared information of his detention on X, posting, “I AM BEING DETAINED… together with 150 padyatris at Delhi border by a police power of lots of… some say 1,000. Many aged women and men of their 80s and some dozen Military veterans… Our destiny is unknown.”
I AM BEING DETAINED…
together with 150 padyatris
at Delhi Border, by a police power of 100s some say 1,000.
Many aged males & ladies of their 80s and few dozen Military veterans…
Our destiny is unknown.
We have been on a most peaceable march to Bapu’s Samadhi… within the largest democracy… pic.twitter.com/iPZOJE5uuM— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 30, 2024
“We have been on probably the most peaceable march to Bapu’s Samadhi (to Rajghat in Delhi to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi) within the largest democracy on the planet, the mom of democracy… Hai Ram!”
His detention has been criticised by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who referred to as it “unacceptable” and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi reply to “Ladakh’s voice”.
“Why are aged residents being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future? Modiji, as with the farmers, this ‘chakravyuh‘ will likely be damaged and so will your vanity. You’ll have to take heed to Ladakh’s voice,” he stated on X.
The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and lots of of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable.
Why are aged residents being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future?
Modi ji, like with the farmers, this…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 30, 2024
Since August 2019, when Article 370 was scrapped and former state of Jammu and Kashmir was cut up into two union territories, one among which is the UT of Ladakh, Mr Wangchuk has been demanding concrete steps be taken to safeguard the native setting.
He has additionally been campaigning for statehood for Ladakh.
READ | Why Local weather Activist Sonam Wangchuk Is On Foot March Mission
He staged a five-day ‘local weather quick’ on the Himalayan Institute of Different Ladakh in Leh from January 26, which ended with a public rally on the metropolis’s Polo Floor on January 31.
Lots of of locals joined Mr Wangchuk – a Ramon Magsaysay award winner – who adopted that with a a 21-day quick in March – days earlier than the Lok Sabha election.
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