India, May 4 -- Three days after Union home minister Amit Shah's visit to Ladakh to celebrate Buddha Purnima, activist Sonam Wangchuk remains starkly unimpressed. Wangchuk, who was released from Jodhpur prison on March 14 after being detained under the National Security Act (NSA), has emerged as the moral compass of a movement demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on the "chilly" reception Shah received, the flawed logic behind the creation of five new districts, and why the May 22 subcommittee meeting is a make-or-break moment for the region. Edited excerpts:

During his visit, the home minister turned down two relatively simple proposals: Convening a high-powered committee (HPC) meet...