Protests in Leh, Kargil demanding statehood for Ladakh, special status
After competition of three years of union territory status, Leh and Kargil district of Ladakh came together and holds massive protests for implementation of four point agenda, which includes demand statehood for the union territory, two Lok Sabha seats, its inclusion under the constitution’s sixth schedule to safeguard land and cultural besides solution to unemployment crisis.
The protests were led by Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) – an amalgam of various political and religious parties of Kargil and Leh Apex Body (LAB), which comprises Leh’s socio-religious and political parties.
Ladakh former MP Thupstan Chhewang, who is also member of Leh Apex Body said that a public meeting was held at historical polo ground of Leh
“People from all sections and areas of Leh came to this place to press the demand of statehood for Ladakh with all legislative powers,” he said.
“We are here to chalk-out the future strategy, which includes statehood status for Ladakh. We even said to them that if they have a problem to create a state for Ladakh then they must provide UT with legislation including constitutional protection for 6th schedule,” he said.
The former MP further said that Government of India must continue the dialogue process.
“We had two rounds of dialogs with the government of India. In the last talks the government has constituted the committee on our demands, we nominated members from both Leh and Kargil for the committee but unfortunately no meeting has been conducted so far,” he said.
This is the first time that social and political organisations of Buddhist majority Leh and Muslim majority Kargil have come together in an effort to secure their future after August 2019 when parliament scrapped the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and carved out Ladakh as a separate union territory without a legislature.
This was the first time that social and political organisations of Buddhist majority Leh and Muslim majority Kargil have come together in an effort to secure their future after August 2019 when Parliament scrapped the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and carved out Ladakh as a separate union territory without a legislature.
Earlier, Leh had celebrated the move back then but now there is disillusionment with the new system in which all decisions are being taken by bureaucrats without involving local residents.
A protest march was held from Hussaini Park to Lal Chowk in Kargil town 200km from Leh.
Sajjad Kargili, a member of KDA said that rights of people of Ladakh have been snatched by the government of India in August 2019 with revoking article 370 and 35A. He said Ladakh is facing discrimination since 1947. We are being told that Ladakh gets a new identity and development but if it’s true then people of Leh and Kargil are not on roads for their real democratic rights. The union territory has been created for bureaucrats not for the people.
He further said that people have no say in the administrative decisions.
“If people can convey their messages they are not demanding statehood on roads,” he said, adding, “There is a need to implement democracy on ground”.
He said unemployment is on peak but the government is organizing fairs, it seems that for bureaucrats Ladakh is only for entertainment, where dances, runs and festivals come up for their pleasure. When UT was imposed on us, we were promised the development but nothing visible on ground.
He said in the coming days people will search Ladakhi in Ladakh as the government opens doors for outsiders.
“We appeal to the government to make the people of Ladakh its strength not weakness. I also appeal to them to play UP, Bihar like politics with the people of Ladakh,” Sajjad said.
