Kargil: KDA call for strike, protests in Kargil on March 20, express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk

The KDA, an amalgam of political, religious and social organisations, has also extended support to innovator Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a 12-day protest fast in Leh, pressing for the same demands.

The KDA also informed that a meeting with its Leh counterpart, the Apex Body Leh, will be held soon to determine the future course of action. Earlier, the meeting of KDA and ABL representatives with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on March 4 in Delhi, failed as the minister had ‘certainly’ told the visiting delegation that ‘these demands are cannot be met.

“We will give an explanation to the people on Wednesday, about our meetings with the Interior Minister and MHA,” said Qamar Ali Akhoon, co-chairman of the KDA. The KDA has scheduled a protest march in Kargil on March 20 morning from Fatimiya Chowk to Hussaini Park, where a protest rally will be addressed by the representatives. On February 3, this year, thousands of people marched on the streets of Leh for the same demands.

“Whatever is happening in Ladakh and the unrest we have started is with every resident of Ladakh. It is not in any district or any community. We are in constant touch with ABL and we will hold a meeting soon to determine the future course of action,” said Asgar Ali Karbalai, co-chairman of KDA. He urged people to participate in protest march and make the half-day strike a success.

“We are protesting to save our land, glaciers and the future of the people of Ladakh. We express solidarity with Sonam Wangchukji, who is also working towards the same cause,” said Sajjad Kargili of KDA. ABL and KDA were formed in Leh and Kargil after 2019 when Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union territory from J&K to strive for the rights of people across the region. The two bodies joined hands and held a series of protest meetings in Ladakh, Jammu and Delhi. On December 4, 2023, representatives of the two bodies held a round of talks with the MHA, following which they submitted a detailed draft of demands to the MHA in January this year. The demands include statehood, Sixth Schedule for UT, a separate Public Service Commission and two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat for Ladakh, when the legislative assembly is granted to the region. However, subsequent meetings on February 19 and March 4 were fruitless.