Activist Sonam Wangchuk Threatens Self-Immolation Over Ladakh Statehood Demand

Last Updated:August 11, 2025, 23:43 IST

Activist Sonam Wangchuk said the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance should write to the Centre asking if the sixth schedule or statehood will be discussed

Activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video message purportedly encouraging self-immolation over statehood demand for Ladakh. (Image: News18/Sourced)

In a video statement through which he is purportedly encouraging self-immolation, activist Sonam Wangchuk has said he is ready to set himself on fire over statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. In his message, released two months ago, he claimed that Ladakhis are upset over the 15-year domicile policy.

Calling for a protest to send a message to the Centre before the next round of talks, Wangchuk said the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) should write to the central government asking if the sixth schedule or statehood will be discussed. If there is no response, it is implied that the Centre is delaying the matter until the code of conduct for council elections comes into force, he said in his message that was uploaded to YouTube two months ago as per the time stamp.

He alleged that without the sixth schedule, Ladakhi tribals will be a minority like in Tripura. He said he was offered a BJP ticket and a ministerial position in 2019 but he refused.

Watch the video here (translation to be available shortly):  

Wangchuk further alleged that he is being harassed as two infrastructure projects — a Rs 10-crore one by GAIL and another Rs 4-crore one by Coal India — were cancelled due to government pressure as they to be undertaken by his institution, Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL).

He purportedly suggested an agitation on the lines of the “Arab Spring" if the government is unwilling to grant the sixth schedule. In the video, he also asked for suggestions on a venue for self-immolation or death through hunger strike — proposing the home minister’s residence, Parliament, the UN Office in New York as options.

According to top government sources, however, Wangchuk’s video message and appeal show that he is frustrated as he has failed to provoke ABL leaders and others against the domicile policy. His messages have become increasingly provocative over time, the sources said.

The sources said he has repeatedly been trying to convince some supporters to commit self-immolation, similar to protests in Tibet. Sonam is exploiting the leadership vacuum and positioning himself as the face of the Ladakh agitation after Thustan Tsewang’s resignation. He is exploiting Ladakh’s geopolitical location and proximity to hostile borders, and his provocative speeches may be exploited by enemy countries.

WHAT ARE THE PROTESTS OVER LADAKH STATEHOOD ISSUE?

A three-day hunger strike jointly organised by the KDA and LAB seeking statehood and sixth schedule demands ended with a massive rally on Monday, with participants warning to intensify their agitation if the Centre continues its “delaying tactics" to hold fresh round of talks with them.

Leaders of both the groupings, including LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay and Wangchuk, KDA co-chairmen Asgar Ali Karbalai and Qamar Ali Akhoon, and Ladakh MP Mohammad Haneefa Jan led from the front. Thousands, including religious leaders and hill council members, marched through the town chanting slogans in favour of statehood, Sixth Schedule, Public Service Commission and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil — the four major demands for which the KDA and the LAB are jointly spearheading the agitation over the past four years and have held several rounds of talks with the High Powered Committee (HPC) of ministry of home affairs.

The participants also raised slogans like ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ and ‘Hum bheek nahi apna haq maangte’ (We do not beg for alms, we demand our rights), following which the leaders of the two bodies addressed the gathering and accused the government of forcing them to come on the roads by delaying the talks.

“This is a historic rally and a powerful message that the people of Ladakh are united in support of the four demands. We have started the fresh protest from Kargil but it will not be restricted to this district alone but will be taken to every nook and corner of Ladakh if the government does not show its willingness to continue the dialogue and address our concerns," Dorjay said. “We are in agitation for a long time now and if the government of India calls off the talks, we have no option but to intensify the struggle," he said.

Karbalai said the core group of both groups will meet later in the day to chalk out the future course of action. “We have already decided to intensify our agitation as the government had promised to hold the next round of talks within one month after our last meeting in May. They are not showing seriousness," he said.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location :

Ladakh, India, India

First Published:

August 11, 2025, 23:43 IST

News politics Activist Sonam Wangchuk Threatens Self-Immolation Over Ladakh Statehood Demand

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