35-Day Hunger of Sonam Wangchuk Strike for Ladakh’s Statehood

Wangchuk also said the fast would be for 35 days and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) would be a “landmark” in their protest

Sonam Wangchuk is a climate activist and a member of the Leh Apex Body (LAB). On Wednesday (September 10, 2025), he and his supporters started a 35-day long hunger strike. They are demanding Statehood for the six-year-old Union Territory of Ladakh. They also want special status under the Sixth Schedule.

“In the first phase, we will sit on 35 days or five weeks of hunger strike. If we survive it, we will follow it with a six-week hunger strike. However, if the Centre resume result-oriented talks on demands of Ladakh, the strike will be called off,” Mr. Wangchuk said, while speaking in Leh.

The LAD held a Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha in Leh. It will send four-member teams to nook and corner of the region. The goal is to educate people about Statehood and Sixth Schedule. Besides, LAB has been demanding a Ladakh Public Service Commission and an additional Lok Sabha seat for Ladakh. 

Mr. Wangchuk’s strike comes at a significant moment. Leh district is scheduled to hold fresh elections for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC-L) next month. In the previous elections held in 2020, the BJP won 15 out of 26 seats in the council. The council has special powers in certain areas of local governance. 

Promises yet not delivered by government

Mr. Wangchuk reminded the BJP of its promise made in 2020. “Sixth Schedule was the number one promise made in the manifesto of the BJP in 2020. It’s time for voters to cash the cheque and ensure the demand is met before the fresh elections,” Mr. Wangchuk said. 

The Centre-Ladakh talks as held in May and failed to make any progress thereafter. “There was dilly dallying tactics on Statehood and Sixth Schedule. There is an attempt to bury the real issues,” Mr. Wangchuk said. 

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He also slammed the Centre. They sent him a CBI notice and an Income Tax summon. They also withdrew the land meant for a varsity. “These are all pressure tactics,” he added. 

Ladakh was carved out as a UT in 2019 from erstwhile state of J&K. Since then, Leh-based LAB and Kargil-based Kargil Democratic Alliance have launched street agitation. They are pushing for Statehood status and the Sixth Schedule.

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