Page 6 - Ladakh

Explained: Details of India-China border agreement on LAC

India and China have reached a critical agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, following years of diplomatic and military negotiations.

Delhi HC closes plea to permit activist Sonam Wangchuk, others to protest

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday closed the proceedings on a plea seeking permission for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar here. Petitioner Apex Body Leh's counsel said they no longer wished to press the plea as the protest stood withdrawn following a discussion with the authorities. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing Delhi Police, added that Wangchuk has also withdrawn his fast and, therefore, the petition might not survive. Wangchuk -- who had been sitting on an indefinite fast at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan since October 6 -- ended his fast on Monday evening after the home ministry assured him that the talks on Ladakh's demands will resume in December. In view of the statements of the parties, a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma said, "Petition is dismissed as withdrawn." Wangchuk and his associates from Ladakh had marched to the national capital to demand the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth .

Wildlife Board approves 5 roads in Ladakh, including Daulat Beg Oldie route

The National Board for Wildlife has approved five critical road projects, four of which pass through the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary along the Line of Actual Control, and one road to Daulat Beg Oldie

Ladakh's policies controlled by outsiders: AIKS extends support to Wangchuk

All India Kisan Sabha leaders on Wednesday met Sonam Wangchuk and other fasting activists, and extended support, saying Ladakh is being treated as a colony with "bureaucrats controlling policies in the ecologically sensitive region" from outside. The Left-affiliated farmers' body urged more people to join the protesters' cause and "rise against the Modi-Shah government that is dangerous to democracy". Climate activist Wangchuk and his supporters have been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan since October 6, demanding a meeting with the top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss their demands. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) later issued a statement, supporting Ladakh's demands for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. "Since Jammu and Kashmir's statehood was dismantled, Ladakh has been treated like a colony, with outside bureaucrats controlling policies in the ecologically sensitive region. This has sparked massive protests, highlight

Wangchuk, 20 others detained for protesting outside Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and 20 other protestors were detained by the Delhi Police for protesting outside the Ladakh Bhawan here on Sunday, officials said. Around 20 to 25 protesters, who were on fast with Wangchuk, were detained and taken to the Mandir Marg police station, they said. Heavy police deployment was arranged to maintain the law and order. Some of the protesters argued that they were not protesting, but sitting peacefully. A senior police officer said the protesters do not have any permission to sit outside the Ladakh Bhawan. "They have filed an application to hold protest at the Jantar Mantar. Their application is under consideration. They are not allowed to protest at any other site. We have detained a few people, who will be released soon," he said. Wangchuk, along with his supporters, marched to Delhi from Leh demanding Ladakh's inclusion in the sixth schedule of the Constitution. They were detained at the capital's Singhu border earlier on September 30 by

Aurora in Ladakh validate India's space monitoring efforts: Astrophysicists

Ladakh's recent sightings of aurora, marked by reddish or greenish light in the night sky and usually observed in the far northern regions, is a validation of our efforts in space weather monitoring, a team of astrophysicists that predicted the activity about 48-72 hours prior said. The appearance of intense red-coloured light rays in the sky on the intervening night of October 10-11 was the latest in a series of recent auroral sightings -- previous ones occurred on those of May 11 this year, and November 5 November and May 10 of 2023. All-sky cameras of the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Hanle and Merak in Ladakh captured the aurorae throughout the night. Dibyendu Nandi, head of the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI) at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, told PTI, "The aurora sightings are a validation that we are on the right track. It boosts our confidence to predict extreme weather events in space

Wangchuk on hunger strike, invites people to extend support by fasting

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday evening said those who want to support their ongoing hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan can do so by observing a day-long fast on October 13. In a post shared on Instagram, Wangchuk said many people have come to meet them, and many have asked how they can extend support for Ladakh's demands. "Many of you have asked what you can do to support Ladakh. We don't want to stage any demonstration, those of you who want to support us can keep fast for a day on Sunday..." Wangchuk said. "If you want you can take out a padyatra in your city on Sunday as well. Those in Delhi can gather outside Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday, but those who comes should observe silence. There should be no sloganeering," he said. Wednesday was the fourth day of an indefinite hunger strike by Wangchuk and others from Ladakh, which started on Sunday afternoon. The climate activist said several people have come to meet them, including politicians. On Wednesday, a 91-years

Sonam Wangchuk continues indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday continued his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan along with his supporters and appealed that the Centre should resume talks on their demands. Wangchuk, who is spearheading an agitation for Ladakh's Sixth Schedule status, had started his fast on Sunday afternoon. According to the protesters, they have not been approached by any government representative so far. This is the third day of the fast... We still hope our leaders will give us time. Even now we are 25 people sitting on hunger strike, Wangchuk told PTI. We hope the talks with Apex Body (Leh) and KDA (Kargil Democratic Alliance) will be resumed, this is our request, he said. Wangchuk said the people of Ladakh have worked for India's security without a uniform or a salary. Such treatment to people who have come from the border area is not in the national interest. Whenever India is in trouble, faces a war, these are the people who work with the Army without uniform or

Wangchuk stays at Ladakh Bhawan as protesters denied move to Jantar Mantar

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast to demand the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, stayed put at the Ladakh Bhawan here on Monday with protesters claiming that they were denied permission to move to Jantar Mantar. Wangchuk and his supporters marched to Delhi from Leh to press their demand and were detained at the capital's Singhu border on September 30. The 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra' is being spearheaded by the Leh Apex Body (LAB). The protesters were released by Delhi Police on the night of October 2. On Sunday, Wangchuk stepped out of the Ladakh Bhawan around 4 pm and announced that he was going to sit on a fast. An LAB member told PTI on Monday that the authorities are yet to allow the protesters to move to an alternate site to continue their stir, so the fast will continue at the Ladakh Bhawan. In a brief interaction with the media on Sunday before starting his fast, Wangchuk said he and his supporters were forced to protest at the Ladakh Bhawan

Agitating Ladakh leaders to sit on indefinite fast, but yet to find a venue

Spearheading an agitation for Ladakh's Sixth Schedule status, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and Kargil Democratic Alliance member Sajjad Hussain Kargili on Saturday said they will sit on an indefinite fast here but are yet to find a venue. Another leader from Ladakh said a few others will also be joining Wangchuk and Kargili. Wangchuk had on Friday said he and other protesters from Ladakh would sit on an indefinite fast since they have not received any response from the government over their demand of meeting the President, prime minister or the Union home minister. On Saturday, however, he confirmed that though they had sought permission to be allowed to sit at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, they are yet to receive permission. While announcing the fast, Wangchuk had appealed to all groups, parties and organisations to provide them with a venue for their protest. The climate activist is leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which began from Leh a month ago. The march was organised by the

No response from govt, will start indefinite fast on Saturday: Wangchuk

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said he and other protesters from Ladakh would sit on an indefinite fast from Saturday since they have not received any response from the government over their demand of meeting the President, prime minister or the Union home minister. Wangchuk was leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', which began from Leh a month ago. The 'padyatra' was organised by the Leh Apex Body, which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been spearheading an agitation for the last four years for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. At a press conference here, the climate activist said they had written to the office of the President, Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, seeking an appointment and were assured that they would be informed about the meeting by Friday 5 pm. "We have not received any response from the government. So we will sit on an indefinite fast from tomorrow," Wangchuk said. Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa an

PIL filed at Delhi HC over detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk and others

Sonam Wangchuk, along with approximately 120 others, was detained by the Delhi Police while marching towards the national capital to demand the implementation of the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh

Why climate activist Sonam Wangchuk led a foot march from Leh to Delhi

Leh to Delhi foot march explained: Who is Sonam Wangchuk and what is the aim of his month-long foot march to Delhi

Sonam Wangchuk and activists begin indefinite fast amid Delhi detention

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was leading the 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra', a month-long march advocating for the statehood of Ladakh

We made some progress: EAM on India-China talks on eastern Ladakh row

Roughly 75 per cent of the "disengagement problems" with China are sorted out but the bigger issue has been the increasing militarisation of the frontier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday on the lingering border row in eastern Ladakh. In an interactive session at a think-tank in this Swiss city, Jaishankar said the Galwan Valley clashes of June 2020 affected the "entirety" of India-China ties, asserting that one cannot have violence at the border and then say the rest of the relationship is insulated from it. The external affairs minister said negotiations between the two sides to find a solution to the problem are underway. "Now those negotiations are going on. We made some progress. I would say roughly you can say about 75 per cent of the disengagement problems are sorted out," he said at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. "We still have some things to do," Jaishankar said, responding to a question. But there is a bigger issue that both of us have brou

'People Called Ladakh' explores the region's diverse cultures, communities

The book also spotlights Kargil, a city that most people still associate with the 1999 Indo-Pakistan war

27-year-old UP man dies in Ladakh during solo trip due to oxygen deficiency

Chinmay Sharma started his solo trip on August 22 and complained of headaches and breathing problems. He passed away before his family could see him last time

Sonam Wangchuk's 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra' from Leh begins for 4-point agenda

More than 100 volunteers led by renowned innovator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk started a foot march from here to the national capital on Sunday to urge the Centre to resume the stalled dialogue with the leadership of Ladakh on their four-point agenda. The Delhi Chalo Padyatra' was organized by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), are jointly spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of statehood, extension of the Constitution's sixth schedule, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts. The talks between Ladakh representatives and the Central government ended in March without any concrete outcome. Amid chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and we want sixth schedule, LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang flagged off the march from NDS Memorial park with Wangchuk expressing hope that the government will greet them with a good news on reaching

Eastern Ladakh row: India, China discuss situation along LAC to bridge gaps

India and China on Thursday held "frank, constructive and forward-looking" diplomatic talks on the situation along the Line of Actual Control to "narrow down" differences and find an early resolution to outstanding issues, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs was held in Beijing, the MEA said in a statement. During the meeting, it was reiterated that "restoration of peace and tranquillity, and respect for the LAC are the essential basis for the restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations", it said. In line with the guidance provided by the two foreign ministers' meetings in Astana and Vientiane in July to accelerate the discussions, and build on the WMCC meeting held last month, "the two sides had a frank, constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to narrow down the differences and find early ...

BJP names 16 candidates for first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls

The Centre on Monday announced that five new districts, namely Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang, are being carved out in Ladakh