LEH: Leh town and its surrounding areas in Leh district of Ladakh region observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday followed by a massive rally and 21-day long fast launched by Magsaysay Award Winner educationist Sonam Wangchuk after failure of talks with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday.
All the shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the shutdown call given by local organization spearheading the movement for constitutional guarantees to residents of Ladakh in jobs and inclusion in Sixth Schedule of Constitution of India. The talks between the MHA and twin bodies of Ladakh, Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Monday did not make any headway in respect of their demands.
People from different walks of life took out processions that passed through the main roads of the town culminating into a rally to press their demands of Statehood, Sixth Schedule and separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh.
The LAB and KDA leaders have already announced that they would be consulting the people of Ladakh for deciding the future course of action. The consultation process has already begun with activists and their supporters meeting people in the vast area of Ladakh across the villages in both the district.
Sonam Wangchuk and LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey Lakruk addressed the rally at NDS Stadium and Sonam Wangchuk announced launching of his 21-long fast, which will be joined by other activists and supporters in batches. The first term 21-day fast could be extended ‘fast unto death’, Sonam Wangchuk announced in a video message posted on the X (Formerly Twitter) on Wednesday evening.
Wangchuk also announced in the video message that the fast will be indefinite and will witness a rotation after every 21 days, will the demands are accepted by the central government.
Lakruk said that the deadlock in the ongoing talks with the MHA prevailed on the demands of Statehood, 6th Schedule and PSC, which are the three main demands among a total of a dozen issues faced by the people of Ladakh region.
“The MHA wanted to implement some parts of the 6th Schedule indirectly, while we insisted on its direct implementation besides the restoration of Statehood,” he said.
A joint statement, hours after the meeting with the MHA, was issued and shared by Sajjad Kargili on his X handle, a member of the KDA and High Powered Committee (HPC) of the MHA on Monday. The sub-committee consisting of KDA and LAB leaders and MHA officials failed to make any headway after two subsequent meetings with the MHA functionaries.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah is reported to have assured the LAB and KDA leaders that the HPC appointed to look into their Statehood and other demands has been discussing the modalities to provide such constitutional safeguards.
https://x.com/SajjadKargili_/status/1764647846924476576?s=20
Ladakh, earlier a part of the Jammu and Kashmir state, with its unique socio-political landscape, articulated its concerns, seeking concrete measures for its governance, landscape, culture, traditions and development.
Educationist Sonam Wangchuk, renowned for his advocacy in the region, announced a fast in protest, symbolizing the community’s fervent desire for tangible progress.
Despite over two years of deliberations, the leadership of LAB and KDA lamented the lack of substantial progress on their four-point agenda, encompassing statehood, Sixth Schedule, PSC, and parliamentary representation to both districts of Ladakh region.
The failure of recent negotiations has galvanized grassroots movements, heralding a renewed call for action and advocacy from local leaders and civil society organizations.
An officials statement issued by the Press Information Bureau of the central government said that “A six-member delegation of Apex Body, Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) from Union Territory of Ladakh called on Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi, today.”
The statement said, “Union Home Minister assured the delegation that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India is committed to provide necessary Constitutional safeguards to Union Territory of Ladakh. He assured that the High Powered Committee on Ladakh constituted to look into the demands of ABL and KDA have been discussing the modalities to provide such Constitutional safeguards. Home Minister expressed that the consultative mechanism established through this High Powered Committee should continue to engage on issues such as measures to protect the region’s unique culture and language, protection of land and employment, inclusive development and employment generation, empowerment of LAHDCs and examine constitutional safeguards for positive outcomes.”
It said, “High Powered Committee under the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs has been working actively with the representatives of ABL and KDA. A significant progress has been made. A sub-committee constituted by the HPC, is also actively engaged with the Ministry of Law and other experts. The second meeting of the said sub-committee was held today which was attended by the representatives of ABL and KDA. Senior officers of Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department were also present. The meeting was held in a cordial manner and various issues pertaining to land, employment and constitutional safeguards progressed for the benefit of the people of Ladakh.”
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