Climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk has begun an indefinite hunger strike at the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar over the unresolved demands of the people of Ladakh. He said he had hoped not to return to agitation but felt compelled to do so because promises made to the people of Ladakh remain unfulfilled and dialogue with the Centre has stalled. A key demand of the movement is the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to provide constitutional safeguards.

After years of delay, protests and bloodshed, the Centre in May proposed bringing Ladakh under Article 371, instead of including it under the Sixth Schedule. The proposal reportedly includes safeguards on the lines of Articles 371A and 371G, which provide special protections to Nagaland and Mizoram. The Centre has also agreed in principle to create a governance structure for the entire union territory of Ladakh, rather than limiting powers to the district councils.

The activist, who was jailed under the National Security Act (NSA), said a meeting held on 22 May had created an opportunity for progress, but alleged that its conclusions were never formally documented. Wangchuk has maintained that repeated unfulfilled assurances and the absence of written commitments have deepened the trust deficit between the people of Ladakh and the Centre.

If the Centre is serious about ensuring lasting peace, stability and justice in this strategically important border region, it must live up to its commitments and implement what was originally promised. The people of Ladakh deserve nothing less than the constitutional protections and political assurances that have long been pledged to them.