Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Jan 3: Continuing with their endeavours to demand 6th Schedule for Ladakh as constitutional safeguard to secure job, land, environment protection the agitating student sitting on protest dharna started signature campaign “Pledge to Support Constitutional Safeguard for UT Ladakh, 6th Schedule for Ladakh” to spearhead their movement.
Roman Magsaysay Awardee Sonam Wangchuk, Hill Council former Chairman Rigzin Spalbar, representative from Anjuman Moi-ul-Islam and Anjuman Imamiya, representative from various NGOs and LEAF Chief Coordinator Jigmet Paljor were first among the public to sign the campaign today.
On the first day of campaign, nearly 1000 signatures from various sections of the society including students, elders and civil society were collected.
While speaking, LEAF Chief Coordinator Jigmet Paljor said, “We need constitutional safeguard for Ladakh, the 6th Schedule for Ladakh and our movement had nothing to do with politics so let us pledge to convey our message to Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi through such campaign”. He appealed to the public to come out in open to support them with the signatures.
Roman Magsaysay Awardee Sonam Wangchuk said that GoI often takes both J&K and UT Ladakh as one and steps taken for UT J&K may suit them best but here Ladakhi having tribal population of 96 per cent population deserves the constitutional safeguard 6th Schedule. He urged the sitting and former MP both from BJP and Ex-MLC to raise their voice for Ladakh otherwise Ladakh may become like Sikkim or Tripura very soon.
Hill Council former Chairman Rigzin Spalbar said that the present issue is not of any particular political parties or section of society but it’s the burning issue for entire Ladakh. He added that under 6th Schedule Hill Council will have constitutional powers to make laws as per requirement and any other safeguard given through special ordinance or notification can be challenge in any court of law.
Meanwhile, many people were seen offering donations to students in cash and kind to support their protest dharna.
The Apex Buddhist body Ladakh Buddhist Association is silent on the issue and not attended the signature campaign.
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