KARGIL: The hunger strike for statehood, Sixth Schedule extension, and job reservations in Ladakh reached its third and final day, with activists and political leaders rallying at Hussaini Park on Monday.
A massive protest was held in Kargil by the Kargil Democratic Alliance and the Leh Apex Body, demanding statehood for Ladakh, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, the establishment of a Public Service Commission, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil.
This marked the first joint protest by organisations from both Leh and Kargil in Ladakh since Independence, making it a truly historic event.
Key figures from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), including co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, and Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan Mohammad, led the protests.
Despite rumors of potential arrests, authorities permitted Wangchuk and Dorjay to join the strike.
Wangchuk emphasized the peaceful resolve of Ladakh’s people, stating, “We are not cowards but peace-loving. I believe in talks, not fear of jail,” underscoring their commitment to the region’s demands.
Wangchuk, joined the second day of the ongoing three-day hunger strike here in support of the demand of statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. “I was determined to join the protest to highlight the demands of the people of Ladakh. There were rumours about possible arrests, but I never took them seriously. I have never done anything wrong and have always served the people and the nation,” Wangchuk said on day-2 of the strike.
MP Haneefa, who had joined the protest on Saturday, said the people of Ladakh are peacefully agitating for their demands, and have been forced to go on a hunger strike due to the delaying tactics adopted by the Centre in scheduling fresh talks.
“Government of India must listen to the people of Ladakh and take concrete steps to restore democracy and constitutional rights in the region,” Sajad Kargili said on concluding day of hunger strike.
The protest commenced on Saturday and will concluded on Monday evening. MP Haneefa, who also joined the protest on Sunday, said the people of Ladakh were peacefully agitating for their demands and have been forced to go on a hunger strike due to the delaying tactics adopted by the Centre in scheduling fresh talks. The talks between the LAB, KDA and the Centre’s high-powered committee ended in a deadlock earlier, after the MHA committee promised to extend the job reservation but ruled out the possibility of extending the sixth schedule, saying it was not acceptable to the Union government.
