Crowds lined up on both sides of the road outside the Kushok Bakula airport as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday returned after his release from Jodhpur Central Jail following the revocation of his detention under the National Security Act. He was accompanied by his wife Gitanjali J Angmo.
He was welcomed by members of the Leh Apex Body and a large number of supporters.
People lined up outside the airport to greet Wangchuk who remained in the prison for nearly six months on the charges of anti-national activities. Wangchuk was on a hunger strike seeking Sixth Schedule for Ladakh and three other demands when he was arrested under the NSA on 26 September after violent protests in which four people were killed last year.
He was recently released after the government revoked his detention under the National Security Act.
Addressing a largely attended rally, Wangchuk said “I am feeling very good. After 170 days, coming to these mountains and meeting people, I hope that a new sun will rise for the cause for which we are working. We are moving forward with hope. We hope that there will be such an atmosphere from all sides, and I would like to thank the people of the entire country who supported us in this struggle.”
He said that “without the fear of the government having accused me of indulging in anti-national activities, people in Delhi and Jodhpur treated my wife with kindness”.
Wangchuk said that the Centre has extended its hand to build trust for a meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh and he underlined a “win-win” dialogue without looking for a “win-lose” situation.
He stressed for constructive, flexible dialogue regarding Ladakh’s demands for statehood and the Sixth Schedule.
He announced intentions to hold consultations with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to plan further steps in their movement.
He said the Centre has offered a constructive, meaningful dialogue. This is what we have wanted, and we had to struggle so much, walk to Delhi, sit on hunger strike. All movements in Ladakh are for starting the dialogue process, he said.
The LAB and KDA have remained engaged in talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs over their key demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion, issues that have simmered since the region was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory in 2019.