Thousands march in Kargil seeking statehood, other demands

Kargil, Aug 11: Thousands of residents marched through Kargil on Monday under the joint banner of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB), pressing the Centre to grant statehood, Sixth Schedule status, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and a full-fledged Ladakh Public Service Commission.

The rally was organised after the conclusion of a three-day hunger strike by KDA and Apex body Leh leaders and members at Hussaini Park, Kargil. The protestors, carrying banners and placards, marched in large numbers from Hussaini Park through the main market, raising slogans in support of their demands.

The rally concluded at Hussaini Park, where leaders addressed the gathering and reiterated their commitment to continue the struggle until the demands are met.

Several leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), including its co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan Mohammad, CEC Kargil Dr Mohd Jaffar Akhoon, KDA co-chairman Asgar Karbalai, and prominent social-political activist Sajad Kargili, besides other leaders, also joined the protest rally here in support of the demand for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Leaders emphasised that these demands were important for the region's democratic representation, cultural protection, and equitable development.

Notably, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), an amalgam of several political, religious, social and trade bodies spearheading the agitation along with the Leh Apex body over the past several years in support of their demands, observed their already announced three-day hunger strike here from Saturday to press for their unresolved demands, including statehood for Ladakh, the 6th Schedule, separate parliamentary seats for Kargil and Leh, and a full-fledged public service commission.

Leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) also joined the protest to send a message to the central government that the people of Ladakh are united and will not stay silent on their “genuine” demands. The two groups have been leading the agitation for the past five years and have held several rounds of talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ high-powered committee (HPC).