Ladakh body warns of strong agitation if upcoming talks with India fail
Wangchuk warns of fresh padyatras, including march to New Delhi
Leh: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has warned of a strong protest movement in Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir if the proposed September 9 talks with India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) fail to produce a positive and meaningful outcome.
According to Kashmir Media Service, LAB Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said the Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) welcomed the talks with the Indian government but expected them to proceed positively and yield concrete results. Pertinently, the LAB and the KDA are two major civil society and political coalitions in Ladakh jointly spearheading the agitation for the rights of the region’s people for years.
Stressing that the September 9 meeting should be result-oriented, Lakrook warned that failure to make progress would leave them with no option but to intensify their agitation. He said the LAB would not disclose its plans in advance but had several options and would reveal them from time to time if there was no progress in the talks.
He said it was time for the Indian government to adopt a positive approach and address the longstanding demands of the people of Ladakh.
Meanwhile, LAB leader and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said the Kargil-Leh padyatra (foot march), scheduled to begin on September 10, had been postponed in view of the September 9 meeting between Ladakh representatives and the Indian Home Ministry.
Wangchuk, however, warned that if the agitation would be intensified if the talks failed to make meaningful progress or New Delhi resorted to delaying tactics.
“It’s time now to implement decisions taken in May 22 HPC [High Powered Committee] meeting held in New Delhi,” Wangchuk said, adding that failure of the talks would prompt them to organize separate padyatras, including a march to New Delhi.
