Arteev Sharma
Jammu: Differences surfaced between the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Leh Apex Body (LAB) today over the latter’s decision to postpone the proposed Kargil-Leh Padyatra “unilaterally”, even as the KDA subsequently announced cancellation of the foot march following consultations with stakeholders and concerns over its smooth and safe conduct.
The LAB had on Friday postponed the proposed two-week-long Padyatra, citing the upcoming September 9 meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)-constituted sub-committee on Ladakh and expressing hope that the talks would yield concrete results on the region’s demands.
The KDA convened a meeting with all stakeholders today to deliberate on the situation after the announcement of postponement of the proposed Padyatra by the LAB.
Sources said senior KDA members were “unhappy” with what they described as the LAB’s “unilateral and unfortunate” decision to suspend the Padyatra without taking the Kargil-based leaders into confidence.
“We were neither consulted nor taken into confidence prior to this unilateral decision, which is quite unfortunate. The Padyatra was not being taken out for Kargil alone. It had a larger goal, and the Apex Body leaders should have kept this in mind while taking a call on suspending the foot march,” a senior KDA leader told The News Now.
The leader, however, sought to downplay the differences, saying the KDA would participate in the scheduled talks with the MHA. “Such things are bound to happen when you are looking for a bigger goal. It should not affect the unity of two bodies,” he said.
After the meeting, the KDA said, “After careful consideration, it was unanimously felt that conducting a halfway Padyatra would neither serve its intended purpose nor reflect the spirit of the initiative”.
The Convenor of the proposed Ladakh Padyatra from Kargil to Leh Sajjad Kargili, in an statement, said, “I have been informed by Shri Sonam Wangchuk (senior LAB leader) that the situation could potentially turn unpleasant in Sham side and that, under the prevailing circumstances, it would be extremely difficult to make adequate preparations and ensure the safety and convenience of those participating in the Yatra”.
The LAB subsequently held a press conference and announced the suspension of the Padyatra. “After careful consideration, it was unanimously felt that conducting a halfway Padyatra would neither serve its intended purpose nor reflect the spirit of the initiative,” he said while announcing the cancellation of the march.
The KDA leader said the decision had not been taken lightly, pointing out that all necessary preparations and arrangements for the Yatra had already been completed in Kargil and that it was fully prepared to welcome and facilitate participants.
He also expressed gratitude to people who had planned to travel from different parts of the country to join the march and express solidarity with the people of Ladakh and their demands.
The proposed Padyatra was aimed at highlighting Ladakh’s demands for democracy, statehood, constitutional safeguards and justice.
The KDA leader reiterated that it remained committed to pursuing the cause of democracy, statehood, constitutional safeguards and justice for Ladakh through peaceful and democratic means.
Yesterday, the LAB announced to postpone its proposed two-week-long Kargil-Leh Padyatra with a caution that the agitation for constitutional safeguards and other demands would be intensified if the talks fail to yield concrete and satisfactory results.
It also expressed hope that the MHA would come out with a detailed draft on the proposed structure of a legislature for the Union Territory of Ladakh, withdrawal of cases registered against youths in connection with last year’s September 24 violence in Leh and suitable compensation to the families of those killed in what the LAB described as “indiscriminate firing” on protestors.
The Apex Body had threatened to launch a bigger agitation if the scheduled September 9 talks were not “positive and result-oriented’” on Legislature and Article 371 which were announced in May 22 meeting.
