Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 11: Social activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday threatened to launch a fresh agitation from September 19 to 24 if the central government fails to provide assurances within a week on issues concerning Ladakh.
The development comes after representatives of Ladakh groups expressed disappointment following a meeting with a sub-committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“We are helpless. We were thinking that there would be no need to carry out a protest or a padyatra, but... We have not received any assurance. If we don't receive an assurance, then we would be forced to launch a massive agitation,” Wangchuk said at a media briefing in Delhi.
He said the proposed padyatra would now be held from September 19 to 24, while adding that the groups remained hopeful of receiving an assurance from the government within a week.
Members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) met MHA officials on Wednesday over their demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. While the Union Home Ministry described the meeting as positive, the Ladakh groups said they were disappointed with the outcome.
According to the groups, the government did not present a draft proposal for the creation of a UT-level elected body for Ladakh.
KDA representative Sajjad Kargili said the delegation had travelled from Ladakh hoping that a draft would be prepared for establishing the elected body, an issue on which there was consensus.
“We were hoping that the talks would go forward from there... But unfortunately, we were disappointed,” he said, adding that the proposals would be considered satisfactory only after a draft was shared and its provisions could be examined.
Ladakh, which was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was made a Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370. The LAB and KDA have been in discussions with the Centre since 2021, demanding constitutional safeguards and an elected legislative body for Ladakh.
The groups have also raised concerns over the lack of clarity regarding the distribution of powers, including matters related to law and order.