Ladakh bodies call for shutdown in Kargil & march to Leh tomorrow
Leh: Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB), two conglomerates representing various political, social, religious and student organizations in Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, have called for a complete shutdown in Kargil and a march to Leh tomorrow to press for their demands.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the demands include Statehood for Ladakh, constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule, Public Service Commission for Ladakh, early job recruitment process and two separate parliament seats for Leh and Kargil.
Both KDA and LAB held separate meetings in Kargil and Leh and announced the protest program for tomorrow.
Addressing a press conference in Leh, Tsering Lakrok, Vice-President of the LAB, said that despite submitting their demands, there has been no response from the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
KDA leader Asgar Ali Karbalai in a media interview said that a Kargil shutdown and a march to Leh have been called on February 3 (tomorrow) in connection with the demands of the region. He said that on this day, Kargil district will remain completely closed, including markets, business centers, and traffic while the people will protest in Leh according to the “Leh march” program.
Karbalai said that people from Kargil will proceed towards Leh, while people from Leh district will also gather in Leh and make the protest a success.
It is worth noting that the KDA and LAB have put forward their demands before the Modi led Indian government. In connection with these demands, the Ladakh bodies have protested on several occasions and also held several meetings with New Delhi, the latest on December 4, last year, but to no avail.