New Delhi, February 16, 2023 (PPI-OT):Representatives from Ladakh took their agitation to New Delhi by staging a protest there in support of their demands. Besides leaders from Ladakh’s two frontal organizations, the Kargil Democratic Alliance and Leh Apex Body (LAB), many students and common Ladakhis also joined the protest, which was held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The protest was meant to press for their four demands including full statehood, sixth schedule under Indian Constitution, job reservation, a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh, and two parliamentary seats for Leh and Kargil. Slogans in favour of their demands were raised by the protesters on the occasion.

“It has been four years and we cannot see any development happening in Ladakh even as we were promised development when the UT was made,” the protesters said. They maintained that the Indian government’s apathy towards the Ladakh forced them to reach New Delhi as the development and safeguards and reservations for locals they expected didn’t come so far. They said that they were concerned about their cultural identity, political representation as well as job security, adding that New Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor and a few other bureaucrats can’t decide their future.

Thupstan Chhewang, a leader of LAB, said, “Our traditions, ethnic identity, resources and security are at stake today. Our demand is very simple, we want democracy to be restored in Ladakh.” KDA leader Asgar Ali Karbalai said statehood for Ladakh was important as it is a sensitive region which shares borders with both Pakistan and China. “If Sikkim can get statehood, why not Ladakh,” he added.

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