Sonam Wangchuk to lead 20-km march in Leh on September 23 for Ladakh demands

Sonam Wangchuk will lead a symbolic 20-km march in Leh on September 23 for Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule demands. The rescheduled programme will continue with a martyrs’ day event marking last year’s protest violence in Leh.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk shared a post announcing the revised date of the 20-km march in Leh on September 23, followed by a martyrs’ day event on September 24. (X/Wangchuk66)

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will lead a symbolic 20-km march in Leh on September 23 to press for Ladakh’s demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The march, originally planned for September 19, was postponed due to prevailing weather conditions.

Wangchuk announced the revised plan on Thursday, saying the march would be followed by a martyrs’ day event on September 24, marking the anniversary of last year’s violence in Leh in which four protesters were killed in security force action.

In a post on social media, Wangchuk said, “Due to prevailing weather conditions with cold nights, we’re making it into a symbolic 20 Km march on 23rd Sept. followed by martyrs day event on 24th.”

Wangchuk also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the change in plans and said he looked forward to joining people for the march.

He urged those who had already visited Ladakh to travel again for the event, while asking those who had not yet travelled to be prepared for the September 23 march.

MARTYRS’ DAY EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 24
The march will be followed by a martyrs’ day event in Leh on September 24, which falls on the anniversary of the violence that erupted during protests over Ladakh’s demands last year.

At least four protesters were killed and more than 60 people were injured during the violence. Authorities imposed a curfew in the city and prohibited gatherings of more than five people.

The protests were held in support of demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. During the violence, the local BJP office was set on fire and a vehicle was torched. Police used tear gas and baton charges to contain the situation.

WANGCHUK’S RECENT PARTICIPATION
Wangchuk has also recently participated in an agitation at Jantar Mantar in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest over alleged irregularities in examinations and its demand for accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protest began on June 20 and drew hundreds of demonstrators, mainly youth and students, along with several farmer leaders and representatives of the Sarv Khap Panchayat.

Explaining his participation in the agitation, Wangchuk said education had been close to his heart for around four decades. He said he had chosen not to take up an engineering job because he believed education was key to the future of generations.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sonam-wangchuk-leh-march-sept-23-ladakh-statehood-sixth-schedule-2997225-2026-09-17