Leh: With the Union Territory administration treading cautiously in wake of pressure from the transporters of Leh districts, the transport industry in Kargil is up in arms against the discriminatory route permit system, another legacy of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir government.
A marathon discussion between Kargil and Leh transporters has yielded no results as the latter are adamant on not allowing Kargil registered vehicles to do commercial activity in Leh district. The insistence of transports in Leh to not allow vehicles even from Kargil has been a cause of several agitations over past many decades.
Things have not changed much on this front even after formation of the Union Territory as illegal and unconstitutional ban on non-Leh vehicles continue to remain enforced without official mandate.
On Sunday the roads in Kargil district wore a deserted look as the commercial vehicles remained off the road due to Chakka Jam call given by All Kargil Transporters Association (AKTA) in support of their demand ‘one Union Territory one permit’.
As per reports, several meetings of government officials and transporters were held but yielded no results.
“As per my knowledge district level permit is nowhere applicable in any part of the country then why government is bringing such order here. One can understand the issuance of inter-district permit during congestion and road-blocks but it should not be a blanket rule,” Taxi Union president Mohd Ibrahim said.
Reports suggest that the administration intends to move on the ‘One UT, One Permit’ system
BJP supported the demand of AKTA. “We hope UT administration will find concrete solution,” BJP state media in-charge. Hassan Pasha said.
Chairman, LAHDC Kargil , Feroz Khan told Indus Dispatch the Kargil and Leh transporters held discussion for 26 hours but failed to find any solution.
“If they failed find solution. We have asked government to take decision as per Motor vehicle ACT,” he added
The four-day strike call from Sunday to Thursday has been forwarded and supported by all stakeholders and other bodies including Islamia School Kargil, Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust, Jamiat Ulema Isna Ashriya Kargil, Anjuman Sofia Noorbakshia, LAHDC Kargil, Students Association and others.
All Transport Association Kargil has already informed the drivers from Leh and Kashmir Valley not to enter into the limits of Kargil district.
The transporters have been demanding UT-level permits for the taxi operators of the district Kargil.
One of the local political and social activists Sajjad Kargili said that on the one hand UT status was imposed by the Government of India to Ladakh against the wishes of the people of Kargil while on the other hand, transporters are now being deprived of the UT permits which is really very disturbing.
“We were eligible for three permits before UT status was imposed on us- National, State, and District. “The irony is that transporters of Kargil district have been directed to ply within the district. It is a direct attack on our economy,” he said.
President All Transport Association Kargil, Muhammad Ibrahim said that there will be a four-day strike, and if the administration didn’t resolve the issue they will hit to roads. He said their demand is justified and it is their constitutional right to get UT permit.
