The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which bring together politico-religious groups from the Union Territory of Ladakh, on Tuesday supported a 10-day protest fast by award-winning educationist Sonam Wangchuk. , to grant Sixth Schedule status to the area. , Photo credit: SR Raghunathan
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which bring together politico-religious groups from the Union Territory of Ladakh, on Tuesday supported a 10-day protest fast by award-winning educationist Sonam Wangchuk. , to grant Sixth Schedule status to the area.
LAB and KDA, however, kept the door open for talks with the Centre. “We have decided to fully support Mr Wangchuk’s protest fast for Sixth Schedule status. The members of LAB and KDA discussed in detail the events of the last six months including the protests in Delhi and Jammu. We are ready for talks with the Government of India, whether it is an official of the Union Home Minister or the Minister of State for Home Affairs. Whenever we are invited, our core committee will decide on representatives and send them,” KDA leader Asghar Ali Karbalai said in Kargil.
Mr Karbaliya said the groups are focused on their four-point agenda, which includes statehood for Ladakh; Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh; separate Lok Sabha seats for Kargil and Leh districts; and reservation of jobs for educated local people. He demanded that ‘Ladakh Residence Certificate’ should be made mandatory for recruitment to gazetted or non-gazetted posts in Ladakh.
“Promises were made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the last six months but nothing has changed on the ground,” Mr Karbalai said.
Mr Wangchuk observed a five-day fast in January this year to press for the Sixth Schedule. To highlight this demand and garner support for it, they have decided to go on a 10-day fast from May 26.
“The ecology of Ladakh should not be spoiled by industry and mining. The smoke and dust will melt glaciers, posing a serious threat to entire northern India. I had fasted for five days in January but till date the leaders of Ladakh have not been called for talks.
He said that the promise of giving Sixth Schedule status has been a part of the manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “Going back on a written promise is like a written check bouncing at the bank counter. This is a criminal offence. This needs to be questioned for accountability,” Mr Wangchuk said.
Ladakh was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir as a separate union territory in 2019. Following this move by the Centre, the local people staged several protests to protect their culture, ecology, land and jobs.