Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk has warned that he may launch a hunger strike or undertake a foot march if political leaders and protesters detained in Delhi on Saturday are not released by Sunday. The warning comes amid a security crackdown on a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission.
Several opposition leaders and activists, including AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, were detained as they attempted to join the protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Wangchuk, who had extended support to the agitation but could not attend it in person, expressed concern over the arrests in a video message shared on social media.
Wangchuk alleges 'undeclared emergency'
The activist said he had not anticipated such a response to the planned demonstration, despite appealing for unity and peace ahead of the protest.
"Yesterday when I posted a message appealing for unity and peace in today's protest, I had never imagined that the biggest democracy in the world would be under an undeclared EMERGENCY," he wrote.
Wangchuk said he had been encouraged by the number of leaders who had come forward to support the movement. However, news of their detention left him concerned.
"I was happy there were so many leaders to lead the movement, but I now learn that they have all been arrested," he said.
While expressing hope that those detained would be released soon, Wangchuk warned that he would be "compelled to consider an Anshan Fast or Padyatra March" if they remained in custody beyond Sunday.
On Friday, the activist had said he would not attend the CJP's October 10 protest, citing preparations for the approaching winter in Ladakh. His priorities included work on artificial glaciers to improve water security and experiments to address the risks posed by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
He also referred to the need to tackle what he described as more than 200 potential water hazards in the high Himalayas.
Four former chief ministers among those detained
The Delhi Police detained several opposition leaders at different locations as they attempted to reach the protest venue amid barricades and heavy security.
Those detained included four former chief ministers—Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan and Tripura's Manik Sarkar.
Other detainees included CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, veteran Left leader Brinda Karat, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Yogendra Yadav and lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
The protest was called by the CJP over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has demanded Kumar's resignation, while police restrictions prevented demonstrators from assembling at Jantar Mantar as planned.