Uttarakhand Ekta Manch activists meet Ladakh based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Delhi to seek his support

A delegation of Uttarakhand Ekta Manch which is waging a relentless struggle demanding tribal status for Uttarakhand by including the hilly region in the fifth schedule of the constitution met the Ladakh based climate activist and Megsaysay award winner Sonam Wangchuk at Ladakh Bhawan in New Delhi and extended their solidarity to him for demanding Inclusion of Ladakh union territory under the 6 th schedule of the constitution. The delegation which included Anoop Bisht and Nishant Rauthan also invited Ladakh based activist to join their struggle at Jantar Mantar on 22 nd December and reciprocating their total support to him and his noble cause. The delegation members of Uttarakhand Ekta Manch acquainted the climate change renowned activist Sonam Wangchuk that their demand and the demand of UEM are almost the same for seeking tribal status to Uttarakhand which was already granted this status in 1931 but revoked in 1974. They said that in Uttarakhand people are waging a relentless struggle for a concrete land act so that the demography of the state which is being disturbed and damaged by outsiders buying long tracts of lands there could be saved, but we say that if the Hilly state will get the tribal status by its inclusion in the 5 th schedule the Bhu Kanoon will automatically come into effect, which is mandatory after the state gets the tribal status.

The interaction with Sonam Wangchuk was very cordial and the Ladakh based climate activist assured the Manch delegation of his total support in the near future. It may be recalled that the climate activist Sonam Wangchuk came to Delhi alongwith his colleagues on 1 st October to pay homage at Gandhi Samadhi on 2 nd October and to sit on dharna at Jantar Mantar peacefully to demand inclusion of Ladakh region under 6 th schedule of the constitution but he and his 150 activist colleagues that included octogenerians as well, were detained by the police at Singhu border compelling them to go in hunger strike. There were allegedly assured of their meeting with the PM and union home minister etc said Sonam Wangchuk but were arrested and 163 Nyay Sanhita ( Erstwhile 144 prohibitory orders) imposed in three districts of Delhi forbidding them to hold dharna at Jantar Mantar and were arrested a day before 2 nd October at Singhu border, Delhi this snaching from them their constitutional right to peacefully protest and put forth their genuine demands for the good of their people.