Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters were detained at the Singhu border by Delhi Police on Monday night, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) imposed at Delhi borders.
To travel from Leh to New Delhi in order to push the Centre to restart discussions with Ladakh’s leadership on their requests.
One of their main requests is to add Ladakh to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, giving the local residents the authority to make laws to safeguard their land and cultural heritage.
Wangchuk embraced X, acknowledging his arrest by the Delhi Police. He stated, “I AM BEING DETAINED… with 150 padyatris at Delhi Border, surrounded by a large police force, estimated at around 1,000 officers.” Several senior citizens in their 80s and a couple of Army vets… The outcome of our destiny is uncertain. We were peacefully marching to Bapu’s Samadhi in the world’s largest democracy, known as the mother of democracy. “Ram, you are here!”
The march that was prevented from accessing the national capital started on September 1. Upon arriving in Himachal Pradesh on September 14th, Wangchuk stated, “We are here to prompt the government to fulfill the commitment it gave us five years ago.”
‘Rahul Gandhi labeled it as not acceptable.’
On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, condemned the Delhi Police’s arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his followers at the Singhu border, describing it as ‘unacceptable.’
Rahul Gandhi stated in a post on X that the detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and many Ladakhis peacefully protesting for environmental and constitutional rights is not acceptable.
AAP leader and ex-Delhi Chief Minister
The detention of the climate activist was slammed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who deemed it ‘completely wrong’ to obstruct individuals from entering the national capital. At times, they prevent farmers from reaching Delhi, at times they block people from Ladakh. Does one person own Delhi? Delhi serves as the capital of the nation. Everyone is entitled to come to Delhi. This is absolutely incorrect. Kejriwal asked, “What is the reason for their fear of innocent unarmed individuals?” in a post on X.
Section 163 of the Delhi Building Bylaws.
The Delhi Police announced a prohibition on demonstrations and gatherings of five or more people in central and bordering areas of the city until October 5, due to concerns over law and order.
At first, Wangchuk’s group was told not to cross into the Delhi border due to the orders, but they continued on. Consequently, the police stationed at the border arrested around 120 individuals, including Wangchuk.
According to police sources, women who took part in the protest were not arrested. However, detentions were made due to orders prohibiting gatherings of five or more people in north and central Delhi.
The individuals who were detained, such as Sonam Wangchuk, were transported to Alipur and other police stations, as per reports from news agency PTI citing sources from Delhi Police, who mentioned that they would be freed later on.
According to an order from the Delhi Police Headquarters, Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora instructed the implementation of section 163 (previously section 144 of CrPC) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the districts of New Delhi, North and Central, as well as in all police station areas bordering other states.