New Delhi: The highest plateau in India and one of the highest regions of the world, Ladakh is a region which is administered as a Union Territory by India; it also constitutes of an eastern part of the larger Kashmir region which is a disputed land between India and Pakistan and India and China. The Union Territory has been in the news after a complete shutdown, a Ladakh Bandh where thousands of protestors marched across Leh, in demand for statehood and constitutional protections for Ladakh. The biting cold weather and almost freezing temperatures also did not deter their march and protest. Seeing the protests, a second round of meeting of the high-powered committee set up by Centre also took place.
Complete Shutdown Across Ladakh
As mentioned earlier, there was a complete shutdown across Ladakh on Saturday, February 3, 2024 more like a Ladakh Bandh. Thousands of men and women marched across Leh, fighting the adverse, almost freezing weather conditions; the protest was led by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Apex Body Leh (ABL).
Protestors Demand Statehood For Ladakh
The purpose of this mass protest was demand for Statehood for Ladakh and constitutional protection, i.e. the implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution; and separate Parliament seats for the districts of Leh and Kargil. Primarily, this protest is being conducted for four main demands which are..
- Statehood for Ladakh
- Constitutional Protections as mentioned in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
- Job reservations for the youth of Ladakh.
- Separate Parliamentary constituencies for Leh and Kargil.
Centre Gives Assurance, Conducts Meeting
The protests took place despite Centre’s assurance with the announcement of a second round of meeting of the high-powered committee which was set up to cater to the demands of the people of that region after its split from Jammu Kashmir, by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).