A new limelight

In the midst of the short-lived joy of Ladakhis with Union Government reneging on some crucial clauses of the agreement, accepted in principle, after May 22, 2026 agreement, educationist and climate activist Mr Sonam Wanghchuk gave a new twist to the Ladakh issue while adding grist to the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP’s) youth related issues.  He embarked on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, along with six youth activists, to take the CRP’s protest against repeated leaking of NEET and other examination papers, to the next level. Their sole demand is resignation of Education Minister Mr Dharmendra Pradhan in whose tenure multiple cases of exam paper leak have taken place.It is a repeat of what he did few months back when he sat on indefinite hunger strike in the cold environs of Leh. His action not only rattled the administration from Delhi to Leh but also added new dimension to Ladakhis’ agitation for their political empowerment, and protection of all-encompassing identity. The outcome was his arrest under National Security Act and being confined to the hot environs of a Rajasthan jail. Only to be unconditionally released after six months of incarceration with a direct implication that the tag of being “anti-national” did not stick on him and the government had to bow in order to escape indictment by the Supreme Court. Mr Wangchuk is brave and astute who carefully chooses his words, he has shown remarkable determination not only in pursuing the Ladakh cause, in the face of attempts by the statecraft to defame him, but also joining the bigger cause of gen-z sufferings due to mal-functioning of the education system and the government of the day simply looking the other way round. Atrociously, the government responded by taking help of the army and air force to re-conduct the NEET examination rather than accepting demand for removal of Education Minister Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, as a confidence building measure on course to bigger reforms.  Notwithstanding the opposition by some of his fellow Ladakhi leaders, though they are few in numbers, and the statecraft busy plotting moves to corner him, Mr Wangchuk seems to have crossed all hurdles with aplomb. No, he did not achieve it through any theatrics or rhetorics, but through exhibition of sheer commitment and determination. It was on account of these crucial dimensions of his personality that he unconditionally came out unscathed from NSA detention and refused to buckle under pressure as many in Ladakh and elsewhere were expecting. Their hopes were belied and he is again at the centre-stage following the Gandhian way of protest. There is no doubt that his presence in the CJP stir and reiteration that education is central to the development of a society and nation, has given strength to the movement which has entered its second stage. This is not to discount the contribution being made by youth activists gathering from all over the country or holding protests in their respective areas demanding Mr Pradhan’s resignation, to begin with.Although people of Ladakh (Leh and Kargil divisions) have been fighting for their rights for quite some time, the issue caught imagination of the national and international media sparsely. This is despite the strategic and geo-political location of Ladakh bordering China and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir with Central Asia not far-away. And their nationalist credentials reflected both in peace and war repeatedly. No one can question their role as the second line of defence in every situation. Sitting at Jantar Mantar Mr Wangchuk has been mostly speaking about the concern of the students and youth in line with the CJP’s narrative, but his very presence on a forum in the national capital, with eyes of the world riveted on the youth agitation, brings forth the Ladakh issue - knowingly or unknowingly - into limelight. Perhaps, he chose the CJP route to silently present the issue at the national platform.By merging the student-led exam protest with long-standing campaign for Ladakh’s Sixth Schedule inclusion and statehood, he has turned regional matter, but of an international significance, into a mainstream issue. After all the two issues have a common thread in the future of both students and Ladakhis, and education being the vital link.  Earlier, agreement with Center had raised hopes of Ladakh getting a mechanism to usher in the people’s rule with an elected assembly spearheaded by a chief minister like mechanism. Presently it is a centrally-administered Union Territory which came into being on August 5, 2019 after the then Jammu and Kashmir state was demoted and divided into two UTs-Ladakh and J & K.However, the hopes were short-lived and belied after the Centre allegedly backtracked on the most important part of the May 22 decisions. Nearly a month after their meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), representative groups from Ladakh — the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) — upped the ante observing a complete shutdown on June 23 to protest against failing to incorporate key points agreed upon during last month’s meeting on the Union Territory’s political future. What has triggered the crisis again within a short-span of hope having being generated again for lasting peace? And why?During the sub-committee meeting with the MHA, the Centre reportedly agreed in principle to consider constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under provisions of Article 371. The proposal had the following key ingredients among other things:•A democratic structure for Ladakh featuring legislative, executive, and financial powers.•The bureaucracy—including the chief secretary—functioning under an executive led by the people of Ladakh. These provisions went missing from the official minutes released by the government after some delay. Ladakhi leaders asserted that by omitting these points, the Centre is employing delaying tactics and reneging on their promises. In this backdrop Mr Wangchuk’s advent at Jantar Mantar to share the platform with CJP activists, has also silently given a new dimension to the Ladakh, aside raising profile of the agitation. In his interviews after starting his protest-fast, he had given clear indications that he was prepared for a long-haul and that he is undeterred by pressure coming from any side.There is no doubt that his commitment both to Ladakh and now students and youth cause, with thrust on rights and education, is unflinching. His discourse both in Ladakh and now in New Delhi is devoid of any political grand-standing despite the fact that his detractors have been accusing him of being guided by political ambitions. The fact of the matter is that he had unsuccessfully contested elections in the past and may be inclined to do so in future also. He is well within his constitutional rights to do so. No issue in a bubbling democracy such as India can be devoid of politics. And more so if the government or the ruling dispensation themselves are inclined to politicise issues in quest of electoral benefits at whatever be the cost. Or sit on false prestige.