x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Forces thwart Pak’s Hamas-style attack on Jammu | In Pak terrorists are given state funerals: Foreign Secretary | Terror nexus exposed: Al-Qaeda backs Pak | Jammu mosques, madrassas open for displaced border residents | Amid cross border shelling, CM Omar reviews situation in border districts | Breeding Ground for fidayeen, links to Hamas, stockpiled NATO arms | PM meets secretaries, stresses on alertness | Masood Azhar’s brother killed: BJP | LG Sinha chairs high-level meeting, reviews preparedness | Army uses Harpy drones to target enemy air defence systems | Pak attempts to attack 15 places in North, Western India foiled | 100 terrorists, aides killed in strikes: Rajnath at All-Party Meeting | SDRF conducts Mock Drill Exercise at IIT Jammu | Developed India strikes back at provocateurs by entering their hideouts: CM Yogi | Cash Row: CJI recommends impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma, says sources | Amit terms AI as biggest disruptive tech of 21st Century in MZU National Workshop | Salman Sagar appointed as vice provincial president of JKNC | SET exam in J&K, Ladakh UTs postponed | ASCOMS & Hospital to provide free treatment to border shelling victims | Rs 300 crore BrahMos Missile Unit set to be inaugurated in Lucknow on May 11 | Any military attack on India will be met with very firm response: EAM Jaishankar | Vivek Bali Expresses Deep Grief Over Loss of Lives in Poonch Due to Pakistan Shelling | Reasi police foil illegal transportation of Khair logs in Katra area | 84 Bn CRPF Provides Relief to Flood-Affected Families | DC Jammu Reviews Zonal Master Plan for Ramnagar Eco-Sensitive Zone | Horticulture Department Kathua organises exposure visit | DC conducts on site inspection of restoration works on NH-44 | Power shut down in several areas | GMC Doda organises Blood Donation Camp | HPS participates in annual “Save Water, Save Birds” campaign | World Red Cross Day observed at Udhampur | Reasi Administration celebrates World Red Cross Day | ACR reviews implementation of E-Waste Management Action Plan | Poonch Administration steps up restoration of Essential Services, Supplies | Arushi Kotwal of Doda Honoured by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya | Mini-Super Bazar M-PACS Maitra inaugurated in Ramban | DC Reasi felicitates JK Board Class 10th 12th Toppers | Back Issues  
 
news details
Kargil observes strike amid rally to demand statehood, sixth schedule
3/20/2024 10:40:25 PM

Early Times Report

KARGIL, Mar 20: Shops and business establishments were closed as thousands of people marched on Wednesday in support of their demand for statehood and Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Separately, the hunger strike by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Leh to “remind” the BJP-led Centre of its promise to safeguard the Union Territory’s fragile ecology and unique indigenous tribal culture entered its 15th day.
Responding to a call from the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which announced a half-day strike and a protest rally in the town to express solidarity with Wangchuk, a large number of people took out a rally from Fatima Chowk to Hussaini Park via the main market and raised slogans demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. All shops and business establishments remained closed while those taking part in the procession held up banners, some of which read “Ladakh demands statehood and Sixth Schedule” and “Save Ladakh, Save Democracy”.
The Apex Body, Leh (ABL), and the KDA — both separate groupings of various political, social and religious organisations representing the two districts — are jointly spearheading the agitation for various demands.
The two groups have been demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution over the past four years.
The provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, were abrogated on August 5, 2019, and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The KDA leadership addressed a huge gathering at Hussaini Park and urged the people to prepare for a long struggle following the failure of its talks with the Centre.
They also announced the commencement of a hunger strike in Kargil from March 24.
“We want resolution of our main demands through dialogue but the central government closed the door of talks on March 4 by rejecting both our main demands — statehood and (inclusion under) Sixth Schedule — compelling the people to hit the roads,” Asgar Ali Karbalai, the KDA’s co-chairman, told reporters after the rally.
He added the people of Ladakh are determined to carry forward the struggle for their rights.
“We had several rounds of talks with the government of India but, unfortunately, they have been rude and gave cold-shoulder responses. They (government) believe that they will suppress the people of Ladakh with the might of their power but this is not going to happen as we will remain steadfa
Shops and business establishments were closed as thousands of people marched in support of their demand for statehood and Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Separately, the hunger strike by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Leh to “remind” the BJP-led Centre of its promise to safeguard the Union Territory’s fragile ecology and unique indigenous tribal culture entered its 15th day.
A large number of people took out a rally from Fatima Chowk to Hussaini Park via the main market and raised slogans.
t and raise the demands forcefully in the coming days,” he said.
Karbalai said the KDA leadership is leaving for Leh on Thursday and will meet the ABL leadership to chalk out a joint strategy and roadmap to carry forward the agitation with more vigour.
“We are united and the people of Kargil will always remain in the forefront of the agitation,” he said.
In Leh, Wangchuk said he is fine surviving on just water and salts.
“Along with me, 125 people slept hungry outdoors under clear skies (in minus 11 degrees Celsius). Let us understand that saving Ladakh’s glaciers is not just a concern for the people of Ladakh alone,” he said in a post on X.
Wangchuk, through a video message, said the hunger strike is meant to remind the Centre of its promises to safeguard Ladakh’s fragile ecology and its unique indigenous tribal culture.
“…We all know global warming melts these (Himalayan) glaciers but many of us don’t know is that apart from global warming, which has to do with the lifestyle of the people in all the cities of the world, what affects the glaciers equally is the black carbon or soot that is released by local human activities,” he said.
He said when the glaciers go away, the locals in Ladakh will become “climate refugees” because these are their lifeline.
The activist said, “But this will also mean that the entire north India will not have water reserves from winters 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 and, therefore, we should on one hand change the lifestyle of people in big cities and secondly demand from 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.”
CPI(M) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami also extended support to the people of Ladakh on the issue.
“We never desired for Ladakh to be separated from the (erstwhile) state of Jammu and Kashmir. Yet, it happened abruptly against our wishes. While a faction of society in Leh were demanding Union Territory status for Ladakh and celebrated it later, they now acknowledge the drawbacks and express a preference for constitutional guarantees for their empowerment,” he said in a statement.
“We share a common history and concerns for Ladakh, resonating deeply with the aspirations of its people. It’s imperative for the government to heed their voices and address their grievances promptly,” he added.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU