Leh, Sept 20: The former two-time MP from Ladakh and veteran leader Thupstan Chhewang on Saturday joined the Hunger Strike in Leh and was welcomed by dozens of people warmly.
The veteran leader Thupstan Chhewang, who had resigned from the body after the last round of talks in May, has returned to the grouping as its head to lead the talks with the government on October 6.
Chhewang, had distanced himself from LAB and submitted resignation citing “partisan, individual agendas and competing interests”.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an ongoing 35-day-long hunger strike, may not be part of it. Commenced on September 9, the strike entered day-12.
It was generally perceived that some political leaders had exercised undue influence over LAB, which hampered fruitful negotiations and resolution of issues, apparently for political gains. The tendency had increased as the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh elections were approaching next month.
Many within LAB, especially youth leaders, had expressed concerns regarding “politicisation” of the body, which led to intense internal conflicts in recent times.
Accepting LAB’s decision, the local Congress unit also announced that it will remain away from talks, if people of Ladakh desire so.
The hunger strike has evoked mixed response in Ladakh, with many veteran leaders suggesting preference to talks with the government over confrontational agitation.
Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), a powerful body within LAB, passed an unanimous resolution on September 13, calling for separation of political parties from the grouping and persuading Thupstan Chhewang “at all costs, respecting his conditions and sentiments” to return.
LAB along with Kargil Democratic Alliance is engaged in dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs over its demands for which they have been agitating for the last four years.
The two powerful bodies are hopeful of a positive response from the government to their request for resumption of dialogue.
