Thousands take out massive march aimd strike in Ladakh in favor of demands
Leh: Braving the biting cold conditions, thousands of people today took out a protest march in Leh district of Ladakh amid a complete shutdown across the region to press for their long pending demands.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest march and shutdown are part of the already announced programme on the call of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), two umbrella socio-political bodies in the respective districts. The twin bodies have long been demanding statehood and other safeguards for the Ladakh residents under the Sixth schedule including jobs for locals and a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh.
The protest by the Ladakhi people amidst the biting cold conditions is seen as a statement by the locals over their commitment on the demands. The protest comes after the talks between the twin bodies and the Indian government failed to strike a deal over the demands. The latest was a meeting with the committee headed by Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Anand Rai in Delhi on December 4.
Sajjad Kargili, KDA leader and prominent political activist, took to X on Saturday over the ongoing Leh Chalo protest. Sajjad said that thousands of people marched through the streets of Leh in protest to press for their demands. “Happening Now in Ladakh. Despite harsh cold, people in Leh gathered and marching with the demand for Statehood, Constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, and PSC and employment opportunities for Ladakh,” he captioned the video showing the protest march.
He added that in Kargil the people observed a complete shutdown in solidarity with the demands.
