Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk expressed his frustration over being denied permission to sit on a fast, demanding the Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, at Jantar Mantar in the national capital and sought an alternative venue for it.
Sharing a copy of the letter sent by the Delhi Police rejecting his request for sitting on a fast at the site, Wangchuk, in a post on X said, "Another rejection, another frustration. Finally, this morning, we got this rejection letter for the officially designated place for protests."
"If Jantar Mantar is not allowed, please tell us which place is allowed". That's why we want to protest against all laws, but peacefully. Why is it so hard to take the path of Gandhi in his own country? There must be a way," the letter read. The Delhi Police responded that the request was received at "very short notice" and no time frame had been mentioned regarding the gathering. Applications for holding any demonstration at Jantar Mantar must be sent at least 10 days prior to the planned event that is to be held strictly between 10 am and 5 pm, police said.
The coordinator of the Leh Apex Body, Jigmat Paljor, said they were looking for alternative venues, for which discussions were going on with the police and the government.
In a video message posted on X on Saturday night, Wangchuk said they were promised an appointment with the top leadership within two days when they broke their fast at Rajghat but were forced to announce the indefinite fast as that opportunity was denied to them. The protesters were also informed that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which barred unauthorised gatherings, was strictly and permanently enforced in New Delhi, added the climate activist.
Taking cue from poet Mirza Ghalib, Wanghchuk said, "Anshan karne de Jantar Mantar pe baith kar, ya wo jagah bata jaha dafa na ho."
"There should be some discussion as to why there isn't even one place in a democracy where people can sit peacefully and share their pain," Wangchuk said in the message.
The climate activist is leading the Delhi Chalo Padayatra, which began a month ago from Leh. The march is organized by the Leh Apex Body in coordination with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which has been conducting an agitation for the last four years demanding statehood for Ladakh, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
On Saturday most of the protesters returned to Ladakh and the rest stayed back to join Wangchuk for the fast.
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