The leaders of the Apex Body, Leh have decided to call off the Pashmina March which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, 7th April 2024. This was informed by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday who said under the circumstances that the Government of India has created in Leh, “chances of violence are very high, which could then be used to lable this peaceful movement anti-national.”
Thousands of people from Ladakh are planning to undertake the Pashmina March to the pastureland in Changthang region to highlight the plight of the indigenous nomadic herders due to the encroaching of their lands by industrialists on one side and China on the other.
Wangchuk stated that the objective of the march to the borderland had been achieved by the “overreaction” of the Government which is desperate to hide the reality. He said that the government is acting like a “mad elephant” which is neither concerned to secure its borders nor solve the problems of its citizens. The Government’s only concern is that the agitation does not affect the General Elections, Wangchuk alleged.
On Friday, the Administration in Leh, Ladakh has imposed Section 144 in the district prohibiting the undertaking of procession/rally/march, public gatherings, etc, without the prior approval of the District Magistrate, Leh. Mobile data 3G, 4G, 5G and public WiFi facilities have also been temporarily reduced “in the interest of maintenance of public peace, law & Order in the Union Territory of Ladakh”.
Wangchuk also maintained that armed barricades have been set up on roads leading to Leh and youths were being arrested and forced to sign bonds.
The people of Ladakh are undertaking an indefinite ‘Fast unto Death’ demanding for the extension of the 6th Schedule to Ladakh which will enable them to choose their own representatives and protect their culture, their lands and the land’s unique and fragile ecosystem. Sonam Wangchuk had ended his fast on just water and salt after 21 days on 26th March 2024 but the fast is continuing as the various groups take turns.
On Saturday, the climate activist affirmed that the ongoing peaceful fast will continue.
Read more: Comparing the ‘Public Emergency’ in Eastern Nagaland with the ‘Fast unto Death’ in Ladakh
