LADAKH REVERBERATES WITH DEMAND FOR STATEHOOD
The recent shutdown and protests by thousands of people in Leh and Kargil districts have brought fresh media focus on the continued demands of Ladakh region which includes statehood and special constitutional safeguards like inclusion in sixth schedule.
There is a lot of enthusiasm among the youth and thousands of them marched on the streets last Saturday demanding special rights as Ladakh has been declared as a Union Territory without legislature five year ago on August five.
The agitation and the talks are being spearheaded by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) their demands include statehood, two parliamentary seats for Leh and Kargil and special safeguards for the rights of people of Ladakh under sixth schedule on the pattern of article 370.
Now the civil society members and many politicians have decided to go for fast unto death in support of the demands, after the slated meeting on February 19, with the Union Home Ministry.
Magsaysay Award winner Sonam Wangchuk and Former BJP MP Thupstan Chhewang have said that they will go for fast unto death with a complete calendar of other supporters for the future of Ladakh.
Wangchuk recently told the media that the people of Ladakh are demanding their constitutional rights and will fight for them peacefully. He said that the people of Ladakh should be given constitutional safeguards and should be included in the sixth schedule.
It is in place to mention that the second round of talks between the representatives of Ladakh and the Union Government is slated to be held on February 19, as the government is going to take the final call on the demands of the people of
Ladakh. People of Ladakh are desperately waiting for the outcome of the scheduled round of talks between LAB, KDA and the Union Government on February 19.
Sonam Wangchuk told media that they will launch a fast unto death campaign to press their demands from February 19 he said “First it will be Thupstan Chhewang (former BJP Lok Sabha MP) and me and if we die, who next and how many? All that roster is being prepared,” news agencies have quoted him in the media.
Wangchuk and Thupstan Chhewang are going to lead the protests as unexpected and unprecedented support is coming from the entire
Ladakh region for the demands.
Wangchuk recently told the media that people of Ladakh are waiting for the acceptance of their demands and they cannot be left without constitutional safeguards and they must have the right to legislate.
“Ladakh should be a state with all powers to the people and not a UT without legislature” Sonam Wangchuk said.
As the people of Leh and Kargil are eagerly waiting for the outcome of talks with centre on February 19, there is huge support growing for LAB and KDA to carry on agitation to press the demands.