Pashmina march was withdrawn due to government pressure
Hash#ag News Bureau Jammu & Kasmir 6 Apr, 2024
Ladakh-based environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday announced the withdrawal of her Pashmina march. The Pashmina march was proposed for Sunday 7 April. Wangchuk cited “the threat of potential violence” as the reason for the decision. Because the government closed the internet in Ladakh on Saturday and imposed Section 144. However, Sonam Wangchuk had announced a peaceful march. But after implementing Section 144, the government banned all types of movements. Sonam Wangchuk withdrew her call in view of the confrontation.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Wangchuk said, “We have been holding peaceful protests in the form of fasting and prayers for the last 35 days. We had also planned a peaceful march on April 7. The purpose of the Pashmina March was to highlight the plight of the Changpa nomadic tribes, who are losing thousands of square kilometers of their land due to Chinese infiltration in the north.
Pashmina March is a question of life for the people of Ladakh. But the government has made preparations to crush it. In view of the ‘Pashmina March’ proposed by environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk on April 7, Section 144 has been imposed in Leh district of the Union Territory of Ladakh in the name of maintaining peace in the area. Under this, there will be a ban on any kind of gathering, procession etc.
In the order related to this, the government said- “No procession/rally/march etc. will be taken out by anyone without the written permission of the District Magistrate, Leh. No one will use any vehicle or other loudspeaker, there will be no public gathering. “No one will make any statement which is likely to disturb communal harmony, public peace and which may create law and order problems in the district.”
what is pashmina march
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s historic Salt March, the Pashmina March is organized to protest against alleged Chinese incursions into the grazing areas of Ladakh and to highlight the “ground reality” in the eco-fragile region. Pashmina business is the livelihood of the people of Ladakh and Kargil. The pastures for the sheep from which pashmina is obtained are disappearing. Some have been captured by China. Modi government is not taking back these pastures from China. Sheep are sent to graze in these pastures. But after the occupation of China, the people of Ladakh cannot take their sheep to those areas. Sonam Wangchuk has adopted the Gandhian path only to attract the attention of the government.
Demand for full statehood for Ladakh is also being made through Pashmina March. Sonam Wangchuk says that considering the special circumstances here, Ladakh should be given status like Nagaland and Mizoram. The rules which are applicable there should be implemented here also.
