SRINAGAR: Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance will march to Delhi on September 1, to press for their demands, which include setting up of autonomous district councils.
Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), have decided to go ahead with the “Delhi March Programme” on foot which will start from Ladakh on September 1, to press for their four point charter of demands.
However, they have welcomed the creation of five more districts in union territory of Ladakh, but cautioned that they should also get autonomous district councils, otherwise it would be yet another layer of bureaucracy over the people of Ladakh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that five new districts — Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang — would be created in the union territory of Ladakh for “bolstering governance in every nook and cranny.” Ladakh presently has two districts — Leh and Kargil — with autonomous hill development councils.
A statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, the Ladakh administration would form a committee to assess various aspects related to the formation of the new districts, such as headquarters, boundaries, structure, creation of posts among others and submit the report within three months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, “Creation of five new districts in Ladakh is a step towards better governance and prosperity. Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang will now receive more focused attention, bringing services and opportunities even closer to the people. Congratulations to the people there”.
Sajad Kargili, who is an active member of KDA, has said that Suru valley region and Sanku area of Kargil have been ignored while announcing new districts of Ladakh, and said that now the government should announce Assembly elections so that people of Ladakh can enjoy the fruits of democracy. There have been many rounds of talks between the elective Ladakh leadership and the union government. The last round held in March this year, could not end the stalemate as the union home ministry did not agree to grant statehood and sixth schedule to the people of Ladakh.
It is in place to mention that on August 5, 2019, Ladakh was declared as a union territory without legislature, following the bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state after abrogation of Article 370.
Climate activist and civil society face of Ladakh, Sonam Wangchuk said that people of Ladakh will fight peacefully for the statehood and implementation of the sixth schedule of the
constitution.
He said that establishment of the Public Service Commission was an urgent need for the unemployed youth of Ladakh .
When the foot march will start from September 1, Wangchuk has said that people of Ladakh will start this march to New Delhi so that their legitimate demands are fulfilled.