Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist and the face of Ladakh’s campaign for special status, on Saturday claimed the morale of Indian soldiers facing China and Pakistan in the Union Territory was at its weakest because of the alleged discontent among its three most battle-hardened components — Ladakhis, Sikhs and Gorkhas.
Wangchuk is sitting on a “fast unto death” amid freezing temperatures in Ladakh to press for the region’s special status under the sixth schedule of the Constitution and statehood. His fast entered the fourth day on Saturday.
Wangchuk’s remark has raised serious questions about the army’s repeated claims that it is in a high state of preparedness along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.
In January, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Manoj Pande, said the army was fully prepared to face any challenges arising on the northern border and it had taken adequate steps to bolster the defence on the border.
Wangchuk, however, claimed the morale of the soldiers in his view was at its weakest. “That is because of the most battle-hardened forces like Ladakh Scouts, Sikh Regiment and Gorkhas. The morale of Ladakhi soldiers is broken because Ladakh has neither democracy (Assembly) nor reservation (for locals),” he said in a video released on Saturday, where he is seen lying under a quilt in an open space. He said the temperature last night was minus 16 degrees Celsius.
“On the other hand, the morale of Sikh soldiers is also weak because of the (farm) protests that take place in Punjab, which also impacts them. For the last four years, Gorkha soldiers have been refusing to join (army) because of Agniveer (short-term recruitments).”
The Ladakh activist said the worst part of the Gorkha controversy was that they were joining the Chinese army.
“The soldiers who were our strength, against whom it is said that if a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is lying or is a Gurkha, you have the same Gorkhas today who will fight us on behalf of China,” he said. He was quoting former army chief Sam Manekshaw.
Wangchuk appeared perturbed by the alleged absence of coverage in the national media of developments happening in Ladakh.
“I am surprised that until today the agitation that is brewing here has not found any mention in the mainstream media. A woman from across the border, Seema Haider, comes and there are discussions for hundreds of hours but there is zero discussion on Ladakh which is on the seema (border) with China and Pakistan,” he said, referring to the media coverage given to Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman who entered India illegally to marry an Indian man.
Thousands rallied in Ladakh on Wednesday to demand special status as Sonam Wangchuk announced a “fast unto death” a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir.
