Ladakh bodies announce fresh agitation from September 19
LAB, KDA give Indian government one week to address demands
Leh : Political groups struggling for rights in Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have given the BJP-led Indian government one week to accept their demands, warning that they would be forced to launch a fresh movement from September 19 if their demands are not met.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the latest development comes after talks between India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) ended inconclusively a few days ago. The Ladakhi groups warned that, since the dialogue had proved ineffective, they would launch protests if any reorganization or restructuring was carried out in the region before the establishment of an elected body (assembly).
India’s fiddling with Ladakh’s political demands draws resentment
Leaders of the LAB and KDA said they had hoped they would not have to return to marches and protests, but were being forced to do so. Prominent Ladakhi environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, speaking alongside LAB and KDA leaders, also said that if they did not receive any assurance within a week, they would resume marches and protests from September 19.
Pertinently, the Indian government separated Ladakh from occupied Jammu and Kashmir and made it a separate Union Territory in August 2019. The people of the region have been demanding statehood, implementation of the Sixth Schedule, and other rights, but New Delhi has continued to delay their demands instead of accepting them.
