Strike over demand for statehood is observed in Kargil

As hundreds of people marched on Wednesday in support of their demands for statehood and Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, shops and commercial businesses in Kargil remained closed.

In related news, Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist, is on her fifteenth day of a hunger strike in Leh to “remind” the BJP-led Centre of its pledge to protect the Union Territory’s delicate ecological and distinctive indigenous tribal culture.

Many people staged a rally from Fatima Chowk to Hussaini Park via the main market, demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, in response to a call from the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which announced a half-day strike and a protest rally in the town to express solidarity with Wangchuk.

While those marching put aloft placards that said things like “Save Ladakh, Save Democracy” and “Ladakh demands statehood and Sixth Schedule,” all stores and commercial buildings remained closed.

Leading the agitation for different demands are the Apex Body, Leh (ABL) and the KDA, two distinct groups of numerous political, social, and religious organizations representing the two districts. Over the last four years, the two organizations have been pushing for Ladakh’s statehood and for its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

After its negotiations with the Centre failed, the KDA leadership spoke to a sizable crowd at Hussaini Park and encouraged the people to be ready for a protracted battle. Additionally, they said that a hunger strike in Kargil would start on March 24.

Asgar Ali Karbalai, the co-chairman of the KDA, told reporters following the rally, “We want resolution of our main demands through dialogue but the central government closed the door of talks on March 4 by rejecting both our main demands — statehood and (inclusion under) Sixth Schedule — compelling the people to hit the roads.”

He continued by saying that the Ladakh people are committed to continuing the fight for their rights.

“Unfortunately, despite our repeated attempts to communicate with the Indian government, they have been impolite and unresponsive. The government thinks that by using all of its strength, they can repress the people of Ladakh, but we won’t let that happen because we’ll be resolute and make our demands known in the coming days,” he said.

According to Karbalai, the KDA leadership would meet with the ABL leadership on Thursday before departing for Leh to devise a coordinated plan and roadmap to intensify the agitation.

He said, “We are one people, and the Kargil people will always be at the forefront of the agitation.”

Wangchuk claimed to be OK in Leh living off of just water and salts. The purpose of the hunger strike, according to Wangchuk’s video message, is to remind the Center of its commitment to protect Ladakh’s delicate nature and distinctive indigenous tribal culture.

Wangchuk continued, “This is not just a problem for us in Ladakh; it is also your problem. For this reason, we should, first, alter the way that people live in large cities and, second, demand that the government protect this nation’s sacred water reservoir—Shiva’s abode—from attacks by mining and industrial lobbyists. This is why people in Ladakh are demanding protection under the Sixth Schedule.”