Examiner Bureau | Kargil:
Ahead of a scheduled meeting between a sub-committee of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi on September 9, the LAB has warned of an intensified agitation if the Centre fails to make “concrete” progress on its key demands.
The LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been jointly spearheading an agitation since Ladakh was granted Union Territory status in August 2019. Their demands include legislation for Ladakh at the Union Territory level, constitutional safeguards under Article 371, withdrawal of cases registered in connection with the violence of September 24 last year, compensation for victims and publication of the inquiry commission’s report.
The two groups have held several rounds of discussions with the Centre since 2021, but have so far maintained that their core demands remain unresolved.
LAB chairman Tsering Dorje Lakruk welcomed the upcoming meeting with the MHA but said its success would be judged by the outcome rather than the talks themselves.
“If the meeting produces a positive outcome and there is constructive and result-oriented dialogue on these issues, we will welcome it. Otherwise, we will intensify our agitation very strongly,” he said.
Lakruk also expressed concern over the delay in the inquiry commission’s report into the September 24 incidents, which claimed four lives.
He questioned the continued pendency of cases registered against people in connection with the violence. While welcoming the reported decision to withdraw cases related to the July 20 Jantar Mantar incident in Delhi, he alleged that the Centre was adopting a “double standard” in dealing with cases arising from the Ladakh unrest.
According to Lakruk, only 25 of the 80 cases related to last year’s violence have so far been withdrawn.
“We are all Indians, and everyone should be treated equally. The lives of the people of Ladakh are not so cheap,” he said, while seeking compensation for the families of those killed and injured during the agitation.
Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said the LAB is observing September as a “Martyrs’ Month” in memory of those who were killed, injured or jailed during last year’s agitation.
Wangchuk said several programmes had been planned during the month. However, the proposed padyatra from Kargil to Leh, scheduled to begin on September 10, has been postponed in view of the MHA meeting the previous day.
“We have collectively decided to postpone the padyatra for the time being,” Wangchuk said.
He added that the march could be revived if the September 9 talks fail to produce a satisfactory outcome. If required, the padyatra could be organised around five days before September 24, he said.
Wangchuk also appealed to people across the country to support Ladakh’s demands, environmental concerns and the people living in the border region.
“We will once again appeal to people from across India to come forward in support of Ladakh, in support of the environment, and in support of the people of Ladakh who remain steadfast on the country’s borders,” he said.
Wangchuk said the LAB expects the Centre to bring a detailed draft on the proposed Ladakh Assembly, including its powers and rights, to the September 9 meeting.
“If there is progress on these issues, we will consider the talks successful,” he said.
Referring to the events of September 24 last year, Wangchuk said the circumstances surrounding the violence were “not normal” and indicated that the LAB could disclose information about the incidents, including alleged arson, if necessary.
“If Ladakh is not treated in the same manner and a stepmotherly treatment is meted out to Ladakh and the people living along the borders, then we will be compelled to launch a very large-scale agitation after September 9,” he said.
