In the ongoing pursuit of constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, prominent campaigner Sonam Wangchuk disclosed on Tuesday that the proposed "fast unto death" protest would undergo reassessment next week. The decision hinges on the outcome of discussions with the Centre regarding various demands, particularly the plea for statehood for the Union Territory.
"We will convene a significant public gathering in Leh city on February 26 to either express gratitude to the government for acceding to the demands of the people of Ladakh or proceed with a fast unto death in case the talks prove unsuccessful," Wangchuk, who was poised to commence a hunger strike on Tuesday in support of the demands, informed reporters.
The Ladakh leadership, currently stationed in the national capital, temporarily suspended the "fast unto death" initiative following a recent round of talks with the central government on Monday, deeming the development significant. They indicated that the Centre had agreed to extensively deliberate the demands for Ladakh's statehood, inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and the establishment of an exclusive public service commission for the high-altitude region.
This agreement transpired during a meeting between the High Powered Committee (HPC) for Ladakh, led by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, and a 14-member delegation of the Apex Body of Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), representing various organisations of the Union Territory.
The meeting also determined the formation of a joint sub-committee to delve into the details of the demands.
"We will wait until the February 24 meeting of the sub-committee and the return of our leaders to Leh on February 25. We will call a very significant public gathering the next day in Leh city to either express gratitude to the government for meeting our demands or commence our fast unto death if the talks fail," Wangchuk, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, stated.
Among the delegation's demands are two Lok Sabha seats, one for Kargil and one for Leh, as well as increased job opportunities for residents of the Union Territory. Currently, Ladakh holds only one Lok Sabha seat.
Previously part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh lost its assembly constituency after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The region was subsequently bifurcated into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The BJP-led Centre, assuring the Ladakh delegation in December, expressed its commitment to expediting the development of the Union Territory and addressing the aspirations of its people. This assurance was provided during a meeting with the HPC for Ladakh.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) established the HPC for Ladakh under Rai's leadership, with a mandate to discuss measures necessary to safeguard the region's unique culture and language, considering its geographical location and strategic importance.
The HPC's responsibilities also encompass the protection of land and employment, inclusive development, and employment generation in the region, as well as measures related to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil, and constitutional safeguards for the aforementioned purposes.
Various organisations in Ladakh have long advocated for a separate Union Territory, and this demand was realised on August 5, 2019. However, the KDA and the ABL have recently staged protests at different locations, including New Delhi, Jammu, and Ladakh, to underscore their key demands.
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