Sonam Wangchuk ends 21-day hunger strike for Ladakh's statehood

Cimate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk ended his 21-day hunger strike demanding full statehood for Ladakh on Tuesday.

Wangchuk, the inspiration behind Aamir Khan's character in '3 Idiots', said his fight for Ladakh's statehood, its inclusion in the sixth schedule and its fragile ecosystem will continue.

Wangchuk survived on salt and water for 21 days.

Earlier in the day, he made a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil the promises made to the people of the Union Territory and also called upon people to use their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections “very carefully” in the interest of the nation. "The first phase of the hunger strike is ending today but this is not the end of the agitation,” Wangchuk said after taking a glass of juice from a minor girl amid a massive turnout of people at the protest venue.

The renowned education reformist said the end of the hunger strike is the beginning of the new phase of the ongoing agitation.

"We will continue our struggle (in support of our demands). The gathering of 10,000 people at the venue and participation of over 60,000 others over the past 20 days are a testimony of the people's aspirations," he said.