Activist Sonam Wangchuk joins hunger strike for Ladakh's statehood, Sixth Schedule status
Kargil, Aug 10 (PTI): Several leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), including co-chairman Chering Dorjay and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, joined the second day of the ongoing three-day hunger strike here in support of the demand of statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Dorjay and Wangchuk arrived in Kargil on Sunday amidst widespread speculation that they would not be allowed to participate in the protest organised by the Kargil Development Authority (KDA) and might face arrest.
"I was determined to join the protest to highlight the demands of the people of Ladakh. There were rumours about possible arrests, but I never took them seriously. I have never done anything wrong and have always served the people and the nation," Wangchuk told reporters.
He emphasised that their participation was meant to convey unity between the people of Kargil and Leh in their demand for statehood and necessary safeguards, opposing anyone attempting to divide the people of Ladakh.
"Criticism, rather than false praise, helps leaders improve. We believe in sincere criticism, and it should be understood in that spirit. If they are unkind and wish to arrest us and imprison us, we have no objections. I have lived my life for my country, and I am ready to die for it," Wangchuk stated.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, the Magasaysay Award-winner said he wanted the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, to know that the people of the region are not cowards but are peace-loving and believe in dialogue.
"We have always lived for our country, even sacrificing lives in past wars. My sincere request is not to misuse this relationship for the benefit of a few in the corporate sector," Wangchuk noted, alleging widespread corruption at the bureaucratic level and claiming they possess data to expose it.
While en route to Kargil earlier in the day, Wangchuk posted a video on X, voicing his concerns over a solar power plant being set up in Ladakh.
"Two weeks ago, I questioned on my podcast how large sections of our land — approximately 40,000 acres — are being allocated to corporations for a massive solar plant endeavour. This installation will produce 13,000 megawatts, which is three times larger than the largest in the world," he said.
In an apparent reference to industrialist Gautam Adani, Wangchuk indicated that the project is likely to go to the billionaire, which could impact the local community.
"While I cannot say for sure, experts in the field say this project is almost certainly going to Mr A, and the worst part is that this may lead to the significant displacement of thousands of shepherds who produce some of the world's most precious fibres, such as Pashmina," the activist noted.
Wangchuk claimed that neither public representatives nor the local populace are aware of the land transfer details.
"The newly-appointed Lieutenant Governor appears to be a loyal supporter of the system and Mr A. Perhaps they will act on this rumour or conspiracy to arrest me. I want to make it clear that I would consider it an absolute honour and privilege to go to jail. I have followed in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi," he said in the video.
At the venue of the hunger strike, the co-chairman of KDA, Asgar Ali Karbalai, along with other members, including Member of Parliament Mohammad Haneefa, warned of consequences if local authorities attempt to stop their guests from participating. The protest began on Saturday and will conclude on Monday evening.
Haneefa, who joined the protest on Saturday, said the people of Ladakh are peacefully agitating for their demands, and have been forced to go on a hunger strike due to the delaying tactics adopted by the Centre in scheduling fresh talks.
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Tharoor junks Rijiju's claim that he agreed Cong is 'anti-women'; hails his party
New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday debunked Union minister Kiren Rijiju's reported claim that the opposition party leader had agreed that the Congress is "anti-women", asserting that at no point did he imply any such thing and that his party has stood for women's rights and reservation.
Reacting to Rijiju's claims, Tharoor stressed that the Congress is totally in favour of women's reservation and prepared to have it implemented right now -- without linking it to delimitation.
In a post on X, the Congress leader said, "I am sorry, but with the greatest respect for Kiren Rijiju, at no point did I say or imply any such thing -- and I have seven witnesses in the photograph who can confirm that!"
"'That was what he meant', our Minister says. No, sir, that is NOT what I meant. 'That Congress can be anti-women...he agreed in a way,' he added. I am sorry but I did NOT agree in any way," Tharoor said.
"The Congress has stood for women's rights and women's reservation under a strong woman president in Sonia Gandhi, initiated the Women's Reservation Bill, passed it in the Rajya Sabha during our tenure and supported it in the Lok Sabha when it was brought by government of India in 2023," he said.
"We are totally in favour of women's reservation and are prepared to have it implemented right now -- without linking it to delimitation," the Thiruvananthapuram MP added.
Rijiju's reported comments came while narrating details of the conversation he had with Tharoor on April 18 after the end of the three-day special sitting of Parliament during which the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated in the Lok Sabha.
Tharoor on April 18 had shared a snippet of his conversation with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die, and said the BJP leader conceded that “no one could ever call me anti-women”.
Tharoor had said women are by far the better half of the species - 'Humans 2.0' - and deserve representation in Parliament and in every institution.
"Just don’t link their advancement to a mischievous and potentially dangerous Delimitation that could devastate our democracy," he had said on X.
Sharing a picture of some opposition MPs standing with Rijiju in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor had said, "A little post-adjournment gathering of Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha with our charming Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
"When Kiren Rijiju explained why he and his party were calling the Opposition 'mahila virodhi', it was pointed out to him that no one could ever call me anti-women! He conceded the point…"
While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
The Bill proposed to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats were also to be increased in state and UT assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
The three-day special sitting was convened from April 16 to 18 to secure Parliament's approval for the Bill.
After the bill was defeated, the Congress had said the "nefarious attempt" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to link their "dangerous delimitation proposals" to women's reservation had been decisively defeated in the Lok Sabha, calling it a win for democracy and the Constitution.
I am sorry, but with the greatest respect for @KirenRijiju, at no point did I say or imply any such thing -- and I have seven witnesses in the photograph who can confirm that!
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 28, 2026
"That was what he meant", our Minister says. No, sir, that is NOT what I meant. "That Congress can be… https://t.co/hkUsYgOY7a
