Leh/New Delhi: Scores of people of Lakakh held a massive protest demonstration in support of their demands at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi Wednesday.
Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, an amalgam of trade unions, social, political and religious groups from Ladakh, besides members of students Associations including All Kargil (Ladakh) Students Association Delhi, Kargil Ladakh Students Union Banglore, and the general public assembled at India’s national capital to raise their demands.
Apart from taking a strong initiative to protect the cold desert, the protesting Ladakhis demanded 6th Schedule, Job Reservation, Statehood, Public Service Commission, and Separate Lok Sabha seats in the Parliament for Leh and Kargil.
Renowned climate activist who has recently held a 5 Day climate fast, Sonam Wangchok also participated in the protest. Wangchok on the arrival at Delhi Airport on Tuesday afternoon in a video message appealed to everyone in Delhi to join and raise their voice for Ladakh and the Himalayas.
Ladakh was granted Union Territory status on the demand of people in 2019 when Article 370 and 35 (A) was abrogated and the region was split from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.
Ladakh is now a UT without Legislature, and J&K a UT with Legislature.
Before August 5, 2019, Ladakh had the protection citing their present demands under Article 370; and now the people of the land feel vulnerable.
On Feb 14 2023, Ladakhi leaders and members of Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance held a meeting at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi regading the Delhi Chalo Protest. Sonam Wangchok also attended the meeting.
These two groups have come together with a set of demands for Ladakh, since people are concerned about their cultural identity, political representation, and Land and job security.
The LAB and KDA, both representing different social and religious groups from the two regions of Ladakh; Leh and Kargil, joined hands to forward their demands in August 2021.
The demonstration at Jantar Mantar witnessed massive public participation, wherein people other than residents of Ladakh UT could be seen taking part in the protest while holding placards and raising slogans.
Representatives of LAB and KDA, climate activists Sonam Wangchok, besides other prominent people addressed the people protesting in Jantar Mantar.
Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk while addressing the massive crowd said that BJP had promised sixth schedule status for Ladakh.
“Now even saying sixth schedule on streets of Ladakh means getting detained,” Wangchuk said at Jantar Mantar.
As our voice has not been heard from the woods far long, Sonam said that we have assembled near the Parliament of India to raise our demands for Ladakh since having a sensitive climate.
Both LAB and KDA, and prominent people including Sonam Wangchuk were of hope that the Central Government currently run by BJP would invite them for dialogue to resolve the Ladakh issue on a common platform, but as per the reports no such invitation has surfaced so far.
In January this year, the Home Ministry constituted a high-powered committee headed by Minister of State Nityanand Rai to “ensure protection of land and employment” for the people of Ladakh.
The two bodies, however, rejected the committee, and decided not to attend any meeting conducted under its aegis, saying the mandate of the committee did not mention the issues raised by them.
