Leh (Ladakh) [India], October 21 (ANI): Ladakhi environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk who is on a salt and water fast for the last 15 days, receiving support from 'Jagadguru' Shankaracharya, who visited the protest site at Martyrs Park in Leh.

The Shankaracharya visited the protest site on Sunday.

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Wangchuk, via a social media post on X, said, "Villages in Ladakh observed a fast, from those bordering China and Pakistan to the city of Leh. In Delhi, hundreds of people came to join us, but they were forcibly bundled into buses and detained."

"On the 15th day of fast Jagadguru Shankaracharya ji visited the anshan place at martyrs park in Leh to support the movement," he said.

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https://x.com/Wangchuk66/status/1848052137999163393

Earlier on Sunday, Delhi Police detained members of the All India Students Association (AISA) who were protesting outside Ladakh Bhawan in support of Wangchuk. He is seeking a meeting with top leadership regarding the demand for Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, among other concerns.

On October 5, Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike to draw attention to the region's demands for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. He and his supporters are advocating for constitutional safeguards to empower Ladakh's local population to protect their land and cultural identity.

This demand has the backing of both the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). Earlier, on October 9, the Delhi High Court issued a notice seeking responses from the Delhi Police, the Government of NCT Delhi, and other respondents on a plea filed by the Leh Apex Body. The plea sought permission for Wangchuk and others to hold a peaceful protest or hunger strike (Anshan) at Jantar Mantar from October 8 to October 23.

A bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma directed the parties to submit their replies by October 16, with a detailed hearing scheduled for October 22.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, opposed the plea, questioning the urgency of the protest.

The Leh Apex Body argued that peaceful assembly and free speech are fundamental rights under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution. It requested permission for Wangchuk and other 'Padyatris' to hold a peaceful protest (Anshan) at Jantar Mantar or another suitable location. (ANI)

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