The lockdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) disrupted normal life in the Union Territory on Tuesday, while people participated in a protest in Leh to demand commitment from the Center on the decisions taken at a meeting of Ladakh representatives and a sub-committee of the Union Home Ministry regarding constitutional safeguards for the region, officials familiar with the matter said.
The LAB and KDA called the strike, alleging that the Center had failed to respect the May 22 discussions that covered the proposed democratic structure of Ladakh with legislative, executive and financial powers, along with constitutional safeguards similar to those in place in Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram through the proposed Article 371K.
“When we saw that the decisions from the June 22 meeting were not properly reflected in the minutes, we refused to sign the document and asked for it to be corrected, which never happened,” said Tshering Dorjay Larcock, LAB co-chair. He said representatives of LAB and KDA held a meeting on June 19 and decided to protest against the government’s omissions.
HT tried to get a reaction from senior officials of the Home Ministry and Ladakh administration, but was unable to get an immediate response.
Ladakh bodies have intensified pressure for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule, including protests and meetings after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which withdrew Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, bifurcating the erstwhile state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without a legislature.
Officials said shops and businesses were closed in Leh and Kargil areas while traffic was largely normal.
Shri Ram, Superintendent of Police, Leh, said the situation was calm. “There is a gathering of people who have received permission at the Polo Ground. Everything is under control,” he said.
A Kargil police officer said shops were closed in the area. “But traffic is moving well. The situation is peaceful,” he added.
Bandh’s call also had an impact in other rural areas of Ladakh. “There is some impact of the bandh in Zanskar. Shops are closed for half a day,” Zanskar SP Rigzin Sangdup said.
The area was thrown into turmoil after four people were killed during protests on September 24, creating chaos in the area as the administration imposed a curfew and arrested dozens of people including activist Sonam Wangchuk under the NSA. Wangchuk was eventually released on March 14, after nearly six months in prison.
Announcing the bandh on Saturday, Larcock said they wanted a reflection of the decisions taken in the minutes of the Home Office meeting.
“We hope that the government will rectify it and the decisions taken in that meeting should be reflected in the minutes of the meeting, especially the control of staff, the APAR issue of senior bureaucrats, Section 371A, G and F were also discussed which were not properly reflected,” he said. He added, “These tactics followed by the government reflect that its intentions are not correct. We have decided that we will not remain silent…”
