3-day hunger strike begins in Kargil demanding statehood, 6th Schedule status for Ladakh
Kargil: A three-day hunger strike commenced this morning in Kargil, demanding statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution to the Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest organized by Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Lex Apex Body (LAB) at Hussani Park in the Kargil town comes amid displeasure among the representatives of the two bodies over the Indian govt’s delay in holding the next round of talks with them. The KDA and LAB have been jointly spearheading the agitation over the past five years and have held several rounds of talks with New Delhi.
A banner displayed at the venue read: “Together, we can build a future where Ladakh governs Ladakh. Three-day hunger strike in support of statehood for Ladakh, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and establishment of a Public Service Commission (PSC).”
Prominent KDA leaders gathered, holding placards with slogans such as “End Colonial Treatment Restore Democracy, Statehood – Sixth Schedule, Strong Ladakh’, and chanted slogans to mark the start of the hunger strike.
Co-chairman of the KDA, Asgar Ali Karbalai, said, “Today’s hunger strike is part of our ongoing agitation supporting four key demands. Over the past four years, we have held strikes, fasts, protests, and foot marches to press for these rights.” He added that no substantive progress has been made on the fundamental demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule status during the last four years. “Our last discussion was in May with Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, who promised that talks on statehood and the Sixth Schedule would begin the following month. However, no such discussions have started yet, and it appears deliberate delays are being employed,” he said.
The delay compelled them to resort to the hunger strike, Karbalai explained, adding that the core committees of both bodies will meet soon to decide the next steps. “The entire Ladakh region is prepared to continue the agitation if the government fails to respond,” he warned.
Another prominent KDA leader, Sajjad Kargili, criticized the Indian government for failing to keep its promise on the next round of talks. “This colonial treatment should end with the people of Ladakh,” he said, adding democracy should be restored in Ladakh as soon as possible along with the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
