Ladakh observes complete bandh in support of 4-point agenda

Leaders announce fast, says Centre not serious

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 3: The Union Territory of Ladakh today observed a complete bandh in response to calls for bandh given by Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in support of their four-point agenda. The LAB organized a huge rally in Leh town for which the Apex Body had mobilized people from across the district and named it as ‘Leh Chalo’.
The LAB leaders while addressing ‘Leh Chalo’ rally announced 1989 like agitation if their demands were not conceded after February 19 meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) called by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai in New Delhi.

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LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang and social reformer Sonam Wangchuk also announced to go on fast in support of the Ladakh demands.
“If our demands are not conceded in February 19 meeting, we will go for 1989-like agitation and people of one village will be sitting on dharna for one day in Leh,” the LAB leaders announced.

One of the leaders said the Central Government doesn’t seem to be serious on their demands as they have called the meeting on February 19 after which there will be no Parliament session of the current Lok Sabha. Last Parliament session of the present Government is on and will conclude on February 9.
Response to ‘Leh Chalo’ rally was unprecedented with large number of people from different parts of the district attending it.
Bandh was also complete in Leh district with all shops and business establishments remaining closed. Traffic was also disrupted because of the rally.
The Apex Body has been demanding Statehood, Sixth Schedule status, dedicated Public Services Commission (PSC) and two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance.
Meanwhile, a complete bandh was also observed in Kargil district.
All shops, markets and businesses were closed in Kargil. Most of the traffic was also off the roads.
As reported today, the MHA has called the HPC meeting which comprised LAB and KDA representatives on February 19 for further deliberations. Their last meeting was held on December 4.
Both the organizations had on January 16 submitted their issues in writing to the MHA as asked for by the Union Ministry.
Meanwhile, as per the sources, an announcement on addressing some of the issues of Ladakh including those raised by LAB and KDA can be made by the Union Home Ministry this month well before the imposition of Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections in first week of March. It is widely being believed that Nubra and Zanskar could get the status of districts, the sources said.
Besides, they said the MHA could make some announcements including safeguards for land, culture, identity etc. However, possibility of Statehood has been ruled out. As far as another demand of the two bodies regarding two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh instead of present one is concerned, it can be done only after 2026 as delimitation of constituencies has been freezed till then. On job opportunities and Public Services Commission (PSC) demand, all such issues are on top priority, the sources said.
It may be mentioned here that the BJP is not part of LAB and KDA though its Lok Sabha member from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgayal is member of the HPC. CEC-cum-Chairperson Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council Tashi Gyalson is also a BJP leader, who too is part of the HPC.

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