Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalized Amid Ongoing Ladakh Statehood Protests

Indian climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was transferred from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram under tight security, following a direct order from the Delhi High Court. The transfer occurred after his health deteriorated severely during a 26-day hunger strike, which he initiated to demand systemic administrative and environmental changes. Wangchuk’s protest had previously intensified following his detention by Delhi Police during a march that drew significant national attention and solidarity movements in cities like Mumbai and Guwahati.

Wangchuk is demanding that Ladakh be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would grant indigenous populations greater autonomy over their land and cultural resources. Additionally, he has tied the continuation of his strike to the government’s response regarding nationwide examination paper leaks. He seeks public assurance and accountability from the central government, particularly during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, to address these dual crises of regional autonomy and educational integrity.

The protests have encountered a heavy-handed response from law enforcement, with the Delhi Police filing four separate FIRs against protesters for rioting, property damage, and assaulting public servants. This has deepened the tension between civil society groups and the central administration. As Wangchuk receives specialized medical care, observers are waiting to see if the judicial intervention by the High Court will compel the Union Government to initiate formal dialogue regarding Ladakh’s statehood and national education reform.