Sonam Wangchuk has appealed to supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party to join a five-day march in Ladakh from September 19 to 24, saying the mobilisation will seek assurances on democratic governance, land and environmental protection in the Union Territory.
Wangchuk made the appeal in a video addressed to what he called the “cockroaches”, referring to supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He recalled spending several weeks fasting at the site during the party’s 26-day hunger strike and asked supporters to participate in the proposed Ladakh march.
The social and environmental activist said the march would be held as part of a campaign seeking the restoration of Ladakh’s democratic structure and protection of its culture, natural environment and land. He said participants should respond if they were prepared to attend.
Wangchuk also referred to a recent meeting with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. According to his account, the meeting did not produce a new step or an assurance that the Lieutenant Governor’s administration would avoid taking major decisions until a democratic structure was restored in Ladakh.
He said earlier decisions, including the proposal to create a Legislative Assembly in Ladakh and transfer full administration to it, were being undermined. Wangchuk said he had expected the government to assure that major decisions affecting the region would be kept on hold until the democratic framework was put in place.
In his appeal, Wangchuk said the march would be held in memory of people who had lost their lives for Ladakh. He added that, if the government provided the requested assurance within a week, the programme would be made a “memorable” march. Otherwise, he said, it would become a larger protest involving people from across India.
Wangchuk also connected the campaign to wider environmental concerns, describing Ladakh as a Himalayan region that contributes to the availability of clean air and water elsewhere. He said the people of Ladakh had contributed to the country’s defence and that the country now needed to participate in protecting the region.
Abhijeet Dipke, identified in the report as the head of the Cockroach Janata Party, responded to Wangchuk’s appeal on Saturday morning by sharing the video with the words “Stand With Ladakh.” His response did not clarify whether he would personally join the five-day march or whether the party would send a team.
The report said that, at the time of publication, CJP leaders Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka had not publicly responded to the appeal. Wangchuk’s proposed march is scheduled to begin on September 19 and continue through September 24.
