Sonam Wangchuk loses muscle mass on Day 17 of hunger strike; Arundhati Roy, Naseeruddin Shah urge CJP to end fast

Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, aged 59, has reportedly lost substantial muscle mass as his hunger strike enters its seventeenth day. Despite physical deterioration, the activist remains resolute in his demand for the implementation of the Sixth Schedule and statehood for Ladakh, which he believes are essential for protecting the region's fragile ecology.

A collective of prominent public intellectuals and actors, including Arundhati Roy and Naseeruddin Shah, have issued an urgent plea to the Chief Justice of India. They have requested judicial intervention to address the situation and facilitate a resolution that ensures the activist's safety while addressing the underlying concerns of the Ladakhi people.

Wangchuk has explicitly refused to end his protest, placing the responsibility for the deadlock on the Union government. He questioned the Centre's silence on the matter, stating that the focus should not be on his fast but rather on why the government is unwilling to engage in a formal dialogue regarding their prior commitments.

Source: Times of India