As climate activist Sonam Wangchuk continues his indefinite hunger strike, memories of a four-decade-old episode involving his father, late Ladakhi leader Sonam Wangyal, resurfaced on Friday.
According to historical accounts, Wangyal launched an indefinite hunger strike in 1984 demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Ladakh's communities.
Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi travelled to Leh, assured him that the demand would be addressed, and persuaded him to end his fast. Ladakh's communities were eventually granted ST status in 1989.
Comparisons have gained momentum on social media, where photographs of Indira Gandhi meeting Wangyal during the hunger strike are widely circulated. The posts drew parallels between the Centre's response to Wangchuk's ongoing protest and the Centre's response to the protests in Delhi.
Wangchuk joined the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest on June 28. On Saturday, on the 21st day of his hunger strike, the Delhi Police shifted Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital, citing health reasons.
Don't Miss: Sonam Wangchuk will end fast tomorrow if leaders promise education debate in Parliament: Wife
Congress Recalls 1984 Episode
The historical parallel also resonated within the Congress.
News agency PTI, citing party sources, reported that former Congress President Sonia Gandhi told a senior leader that they should meet Wangchuk at the protest site and referred to the 1984 episode.
Sonia Gandhi cited Indira Gandhi's decision to travel to Leh and engage directly with Wangyal as an example of how governments should respond to peaceful democratic protests.
Last Thursday, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast, while party leader Pawan Khera visited him at Jantar Mantar on Friday.
After the meeting, Khera said peaceful protest was a constitutional right, and governments had a duty to engage with those on a fast. "That is what Indira Gandhi ji did in 1984. That is what Dr Manmohan Singh's government did in 2011,"
Wangchuk joined the Cockroach Janta Party's protest at Jantar Mantar on June 28. The outfit's agitation, centred on alleged examination irregularities and a demand for the Union education minister's resignation, entered its 28th day on Friday.
In 1984, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s father—Sonam Wangyal, a prominent Ladakhi politician and former minister in the Jammu & Kashmir government—undertook a 5-day indefinite hunger strike in Leh.
Here is what he wanted, what happened, and how it turned out:
What He Wanted
Scheduled Tribe (ST) Status for Ladakh: Wangyal demanded that the indigenous communities of Ladakh be granted official Scheduled Tribe (ST) status under the Indian Constitution.
Protections & Reservations: The goal was to secure constitutional safeguards for Ladakh’s distinct cultural identity, land rights, educational reservations, and government employment opportunities for local youth.
Indira Gandhi’s Visit & The Outcome
Direct Personal Engagement: Recognizing the sensitivity of the region and the growing public support in Leh, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi flew directly to Leh to engage with Wangyal personally.
Ending the Fast: She offered her personal assurance that the Union government would address the demand, persuading Wangyal to break his fast with a soft drink.
The Result: Five years later, in 1989, the Central government officially issued the constitutional order granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to eight major tribal communities in Ladakh.
No comments:
Post a Comment