(TibetanReview.net, Feb04’24) – India’s strategically important Tibet-border Union Territory of Ladakh observed a complete shutdown on Feb 3 as thousands of its residents staged a march, demanding statehood and protections of local people’s interests under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution. It was organized by Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance from the two districts which comprise the Union Territory.
Thousands of men and women marched across the main city of Leh, and in Kargil, in freezing temperatures, shouting slogans demanding statehood for Ladakh, the implementation of the sixth schedule of the Constitution, and also separate parliament seats for Leh and Kargil districts, reported the ndtv.com and the indianexpress.com Feb 3.
The shutdown was observed despite the central government’s announcement to hold a second round of talks with representatives from the two districts with a high-powered committee headed by Minister of State (Home Affairs) Nityanand Rai to address the demands of the people of Ladakh, the reports noted.
The two socio-political organisations spearheading the movement are pursuing four main demands: statehood for Ladakh, safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, reservation of jobs for the youth of Ladakh, and the creation of separate Parliamentary constituencies for the two parts of the region — Leh and Kargil.
Leh is predominantly Buddhist while Kargil is predominantly Shia Muslim populated.
The people of Ladakh said they couldn’t live under an unending bureaucratic rule in the Union Territory and only a full statehood – where they elect their representatives to govern the region – could fulfil their demand, said the ndtv.com report.
Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory after Article 370 of the Indian constitution was scrapped and the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated and downgraded into two Union Territories in Aug 2019.
Over the last two years, the people of Ladakh have held multiple protests demanding statehood and constitutional guarantees to protect their land, jobs, and distinct identity, something they used to enjoy under Article 370, the report said.