Thousands of individuals participated in a massive rally in Kargil on Wednesday, advocating for statehood and including Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
In a show of solidarity, shops and businesses remained closed as people marched from Fatima Chowk to Hussaini Park, carrying banners demanding these constitutional provisions.
The rally was organised to support climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike in Leh, now in its 15th day, aimed at reminding the BJP-led Centre of its commitment to protecting Ladakh's delicate environment and rich indigenous tribal heritage.
The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) called for a half-day strike and a protest rally, drawing significant participation from the community. The Apex Body, Leh (ABL), and the KDA, representing various political, social, and religious organisations in the region, have been jointly advocating for statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion for Ladakh for the past four years.
Addressing a large gathering at Hussaini Park, KDA leaders emphasised the need for sustained efforts after unsuccessful negotiations with the Centre. They announced plans for a hunger strike in Kargil starting March 24, underlining the determination of Ladakhi people to continue their struggle for rights.
Meanwhile, in Leh, Sonam Wangchuk expressed his commitment to his hunger strike, surviving solely on water and salts. In a video message, Wangchuk highlighted the urgency of safeguarding Ladakh's glaciers, which are crucial for local livelihoods, to prevent the region's inhabitants from becoming "climate refugees."
The activist said, "But this will also mean that the entire north India will not have water reserves from winter till spring. They will only have rainfall, which is erratic and not dependable."
Wangchuk further said, "This does not affect only us in Ladakh; it is your problem also. Therefore, we should, on the one hand, change the lifestyle of people in big cities and, secondly, demand the government to safeguard this sacred water reservoir of the nation—the abode of Shiva—from the attacks of industrial and mining lobbies and that is why people in Ladakh are demanding Sixth Schedule safeguards."
The collective actions in Kargil and Leh underscore the fervent demand for constitutional safeguards and environmental protection in Ladakh, signalling a resolve to persist until these demands are met.
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