Despite the severe cold weather, thousands in Ladakh have taken to the streets to demand statehood for Ladakh and protection under the 6th schedule of the Constitution as a Union Territory. They are also calling for job security and a separate Lok Sabha seat in Parliament for Kargil and Leh. Following the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories in August 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370, Ladakh initially accepted the Union Territory status. However, residents now feel that their democratic rights have been stripped away since they have been without an elected legislature. The people of Ladakh express discontent with the prolonged bureaucratic rule in the region, emphasizing that only full statehood can fulfill their demands for elected representation. Who is leading the protests? The ‘Leh Chalo Andolan’ is a collaborative effort led by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). On January 23, they presented a memorandum to the Union Home Ministry, highlighting that while the Supreme Court has indicated the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is to remain a Union Territory without the same privileges. Citing examples of states like Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim, and other northeastern states seeking statehood with protection under the 6th schedule and Article 371 of the Indian Constitution, the memorandum proposes amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019. The suggested amendment includes provisions for two Members of Parliament from Ladakh – one from Leh and one from Kargil. The central government has acknowledged these demands by establishing a high-level committee led by Minister of State from Home, Nityanand Rai. Civil society groups engaged in talks with the committee on December 4, with further discussions scheduled for February 19. Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent advocate for constitutional safeguards in Ladakh, has announced plans to commence a hunger strike on February 19 to intensify the pressure for their demands.
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