Kargil, Mar 24: A three day hunger strike of the leaders of Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) began today in support of their demands including statehood and 6th Schedule for Ladakh
The climate fast in Leh by renowned social and environmental activist and Magsaysay award winner Sonam Wanghcuk also entered the 19th day in support of the demands.
KDA, an amalgam of social, religious, political, trade and student organisations had announced a 3-day hunger strike in support of their four demands mainly including Statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule. The hunger strike has also been announced by KDA in solidarity with the Sonam Wangchuk also extended support for his ongoing 21-day climate fast in Leh.
Various prominent religious, social and political leaders besides civil society groups from Kargil also participated in the hunger strike.
The strike started early at 10 am in the morning that saw participation of both Co-Chairman of KDA, Asgar Ali Karbalai and Qamar Ali Akhoon, IKMT’s 80 years old Chairman, Guardian Council Sheikh Mohammad Mohaqiq, CEC, LAHDC, Kargil Dr Jaffar Akhone, Executive Councillors, Councillors, former CEC Feroz Ahmad Khan, Representative Anjuman Jamiat Ulema Isan Ashriya Kargil, Sajjad Hussain Kargili, Anjuman Noorbakshia Sheikh Ansar Mehdi, President National Conference Haji Hanifa Jan, President Indian National Congress Nasir Hussain Munshi among many others.
The speakers on the occasion said the struggle for full statehood for the Union territory of Ladakh was set to intensify further after talks with the government earlier this month failed to make any headway and there has been no outreach after Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike. The participants hold placards reading ‘ Save Ladakh’ Restore Democray in Ladakh.
KDA has also expressed support to environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 21-day climate fast which entered 19th day on sunday. “We want resolution of our main demands through dialogue but the central government closed the door of talks on March 4 by rejecting both our main demands — statehood and (inclusion under) Sixth Schedule — compelling the people to hit the roads,” Asgar Ali Karbalai, the KDA’s co-chairman, said. He added the people of Ladakh are determined to carry forward the struggle for their rights. “We had several rounds of talks with the government of India but, unfortunately, they gave cold-shoulder responses. They (government) believe that they will suppress the people of Ladakh with the might of their power but this is not going to happen as we will remain steadfast and raise the demands forcefully in the coming days,” he said. Karbalai said the KDA leadership after the hunger strike in consultation with the Apex Body Leh leadership to chalk out future course of action.
Meanwhile, the 21-day climate fast by renowned social and environmental activist from Ladakh Sonam Wangchuk entered 19th day on Sunday. Wangchuk had started his climate fast on March 6 to press for the region’s environmental and constitutional safeguards and democratic rights for Ladakh.