Ladakhi activist says they were better off with erstwhile J&K state
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Srinagar: Sonam Wangchuk, a leading environmentalist and a renowned innovator from Ladakh, has come forward saying that the Union Territory was better off with the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sonam, who was an inspiration for Aamir Khan starrer '3 idiots', had welcomed the Narendra Modi government's abrogation of Article 370 and cancellation of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, now says that he feels unsafe and unshielded in the UT status of Ladakh, NDTV reported.
Wangchuk had led a five-day fast and had ended it on Tuesday, raising the demands of statehood and special status for Ladakh under the 6th schedule of the constitution.
He told NDTV that since there is no protection of article 370, there should be protection under the 6th schedule of Article 244 for Ladakh. It took him time to realize the impact of turning Ladakh into a UT after he welcomed it in 2019. He had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi then for his government stripping off J&K.
According to Ladakhi leaders, only the sixth schedule and statehood are the solution for the growing alienation among their people.
When Wangchuk ended his protest fasting on Tuesday, thousands joined him at Polo ground in Leh in support.
Wangchuk said he could not keep mum when locals have no say in the governance of their land. He added that the region's culture, ecology and environment are facing imminent threats.
Leaders of Leh and Kargil, the former a Buddhist-dominated region while the latter Muslim, formed an alliance. The allies refused to attend a central government-powered high-power committee meeting, which was headed by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. They boycotted the meeting, citing the non-inclusion of the 6th schedule and statehood in the agenda.