Two protestors hospitalized; Apex Body asks, “What’s the problem in advancing talks?
Arteev Sharma
Jammu:: In a bid to mount pressure on the Centre to advance the proposed talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), backed by several social, religious and student groups, has called for a complete shutdown in Leh town tomorrow.
The protest call followed the hospitalization of two protestors, Tsering Angchuk, (72) and Tashi Dolma, (62) in SNM Hospital, Leh after their condition deteriorated on 14th day of the ongoing 35-day-long fast started by climate activist-cum-education reformist Sonam Wangchuk at Martyrs Park Leh.
The warring groups have expressed concern over the deteriorating health of the people sitting on hunger strike demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.
On September 20, the MHA decided to convene the next meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh, comprising members from LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)—two groups spearheading agitation for fulfilling the four-point agenda comprising two contentious demands—Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, on October 6, after a gap of four months. The last round of talks between Ladakh leaders and the MHA had taken place on May 27.
Ahead of the upcoming Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh elections, the Apex Body recently decided to exclude political leaders from its delegation for talks with the MHA. As a result, senior Congress leader and former minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, along with Sonam Wangchuk, have been dropped from the panel.
Talking to the media persons in Leh, leaders from the LAB youth wing and allied organisations questioned the rationale of waiting for talks until October 6, warning that the health of the elderly and women on fast was worsening by the day. “Talks should be held without delay to break the current deadlock,” they said.
When contacted, Chering Dorjay Lakrook, senior Buddhist leader and LAB co-chairman, defended the shutdown call, saying, “What is the problem in advancing the talks?”
“Our youth wing, backed by several religious, social and student groups, has called for a shutdown in Leh tomorrow because they are not happy with the delay in talks on two core issues–Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. What is the problem in advancing the talks? The situation is deteriorating with each passing day. Two people fell ill today and the condition of others on fast is worsening,” the leader said.
He said the hunger strike has now entered its 14th day. “The government must seriously consider our demand to prepone talks to end this dilemma,” Dorjay said.
On whether the shutdown would extend beyond a day, he said that it depends on the situation and the government’s response. “If the government agrees to advance the dialogue, there is no point in continuing the shutdown. Otherwise, we will review the situation and take a call in consultation with all stakeholders,” he said while refusing to provide details on the next course of action.
Earlier, he revealed that the LAB had requested Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast due to his deteriorating health, along with that of other hunger strikers, including women and the elderly. “We requested him to call off the fast since the agitation can continue through dharnas and protests. But he refused, saying he would not end it until the talks yield tangible results,” he had said.
He expected that the dialogue between Ladakh leaders and MHA would be meaningful, saying “We always enter discussions with the expectation of result-oriented dialogue. This time too, we look forward to meaningful progress on the two core issues—statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.”
Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk continued his fast on the 14th day and thanked 17-year-old Higio Obin for raising Ladakh’s cause during the Prime Minister’s rally in Arunachal Pradesh. Wangchuk said that over 500 people from different parts of Ladakh join the agitation in day-long fasts every day, while 15 others continue on an indefinite hunger strike.
