Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday expressed his frustration on being denied permission to sit on a fast demanding Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital, and sought an alternative.

Sharing a copy of the letter sent by Delhi Police rejecting his request for sitting on a fast at the Jantar Mantar, Wangchuk, in a post on X, said, “Another rejection, another frustration. Finally this morning we got this rejection letter for the officially designated place for protests.”

“If Jantar Mantar is not allowed, please tell us which place is allowed. We want to abide by all laws and still express our grievance in a peaceful way. Why is it so difficult to follow the path of Gandhi in his own country? There must be a way.”

In the letter, Delhi Police said the request was received at a “very short notice”, and no specific time frame was mentioned about the gathering.

As per guidelines, applications for holding any demonstration at the Jantar Mantar must be sent at least 10 days prior to the planned event to be held strictly between 10 am and 5 pm, police said.

Jigmat Paljor, coordinator of the Leh Apex Body representing the protesters, told PTI that they are looking for alternative venues for which discussions are going on with the police and the government.

In a video message shared on X on Saturday night, Wangchuk claimed when they broke their fast at Rajghat, they were assured of an appointment with the top leadership within two days, but they were forced to announce the indefinite fast after being denied the same.

The protesters were also told that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita which prohibits unauthorised gatherings is permanently enforced in New Delhi, the climate activist added.

Taking a cue from poet Mirza Ghalib, Wanghchuk said, “Anshan karne de Jantar Mantar pe baith kar, ya wo jagah bata jaha dafa na ho (let us sit on fast at Jantar Mantar, or tell us a place where there is no section imposed).”

“There should be a discussion as to why there is no such place in a democracy where people can sit peacefully and share their pain,” Wangchuk said in the message.

The climate activist led the ‘Delhi Chalo Padayatra’, which began from Leh a month ago.

The march was organised by Leh Apex Body, which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been spearheading an agitation for the last four years seeking statehood for Ladakh, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

On Saturday, majority of the protesters returned to Ladakh while the remaining stayed back to join Wangchuk for the fast.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused BJP of stocking communal tensions in Goa, adding its attempts will not go unchallenged and the people of the state and the whole of India see through this divisive agenda and are standing united.

“Unfortunately, under BJP rule, this harmony is under attack. The BJP is deliberately stoking communal tensions, with a former RSS leader provoking Christians and Sangh organisations calling for an economic boycott of Muslims” he said.

“Goa’s appeal lies in its natural beauty and the warmth and hospitality of its diverse and harmonious people,” the Congress leader said in a post on X.

He said across India, similar actions by the Sangh Parivar continue with impunity, backed by support from the highest levels.

“In Goa, the BJP’s strategy is clear: divide the people while exploiting ecologically sensitive areas by illegally converting green land and bypassing environmental regulations—an assault on Goa’s natural and social heritage,” the Rae Bareli MP said.

The former Congress chief said, “BJP’s attempts will not go unchallenged. The people of Goa and the whole of India see through this divisive agenda and are standing united.”

Earlier, the former Goa unit chief of RSS, Subhash Velingkar, advocated for a DNA test of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier, who is revered as the patron saint of Goa. This led to protests across the state. The Goa police have reported that Velingkar is currently “absconding,” and efforts are underway to locate him.

Following numerous complaints against Velingkar in various parts of Goa for allegedly offending religious sentiments and disrupting communal harmony, an FIR was filed against him on Friday night at North Goa’s Bicholim police station under section 299 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. This action was taken based on a complaint by AAP MLA Cruz Silva.

“The accused with malicious intentions gave maligning speech against St Francis Xavier outraging the religious feelings and insulting religious beliefs of complainant, entire class of his religion and others,” as per the FIR.

With the voting concluded in Haryana and EVM and VVPAT being sealed and secured for the October 8 counting day, the focus shifts to what exit polls predict for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Congress is likely to form the government in the state after a decade, while exit polls predict serendipity for the National Conference in the Union Territory, projecting 40-48 seats in alliance with the grand old party.

The concluded election is particularly important as it is the first one since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, which resulted in the reorganization of the former state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and Congress formed a coalition to contest in the election, while the People’s Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party ran separately.

According to exit polls, the Congress will secure 55 seats in Haryana while they predict 26 seats for the BJP. It says that the JJP would win 0-1 seats, the INLD – 2-3 while Others could win 3-5 seats.

For the Union Territory, the exit polls predicted an uncertain victory for the NC-Congress alliance with 40-48 seats. BJP may secure 20-25, while the PDP is likely to gain 4-7, and Others could win up to 12-16.

On exit polls prediction for Haryana, the former Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said: “I feel that we will win 65 plus-minus seats. Congress will form the government with a thumping majority.”

“We will work on unemployment, education and security. CM post is everyone’s right. This is democracy. Whatever decision the High Command takes we will accept this. Kumari Selja is our senior leader,” he said while speaking to reporters.

“BJP contested the elections with all its strength, and we are confident that BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir. I feel that the BJP will emerge victorious when the results will be out on October 8,” said Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said, “These elections were fought to keep the BJP out of power and restoration for statehood. Talking about the (Congress-National Conference) alliance, we are in a comfortable position.”

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah posted on X, “I’m amazed channels are bothering with exit polls especially after the fiasco of the recent general elections. I’m ignoring all the noise on channels, social media, WhatsApp Etc because the only numbers that matter will be revealed on the 8th of Oct. The rest is just time pass.”

BJP senior leader Anil Vij, on exit poll predictions, said BJP will surely win in Haryana and form the government again.

“As per the exit poll predictions, we (Congress-National Conference alliance) will likely win 50-61 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, while in Haryana, Congress will win around 55-65 seats. I want to thank the people of both states,” said Congress leader Ashok Tanwar on exit poll predictions for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.