By Vijaita Singh

Copyright thehindu

As the hunger strike by Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk entered the seventh day, over a hundred people from remote villages in the region bordering China joined the protest in Leh.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB), on whose behalf Mr. Wangchuk has been leading the protests, said that it has decided to keep the movement “apolitical” and members of the Congress party associated with the movement have been asked to step down.

Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, president of the powerful Ladakh Buddhist Association (LAB) and co-convenor of the LAB, said the protest will continue even if the Union Home Ministry resumed talks with the civil society grouping. He said the demands for constitutional safeguards such as inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (tribal status) and Statehood would remain.

Thupstan Chhewang, the former Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament who represented the LAB in talks with the Ministry but resigned in June citing “individual agendas and competing interests”, has decided to return to the grouping, Mr. Lakruk said.

The development comes ahead of the elections for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, expected in October-November this year.

“Chhewang who had resigned a few days ago is back with LAB. He is one of the tallest leaders here while Sonam Wangchuk is an activist,” Mr. Lakruk told The Hindu.

After Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, following revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcation of the former State, civil society groups in Ladakh erupted in protests several times demanding constitutional safeguards such as Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule to preserve land and culture, and employment opportunities.

After several rounds of talks, President Droupadi Murmu on June 3 notified four Regulations for the Union Territory of Ladakh, defining new policies on reservation, languages, domiciles, and composition of hill councils for Ladakh. The Regulations pave the way for 85% reservation for resident Ladakhis in government jobs.

“We have decided to remain neutral during the upcoming elections. The government has sent feelers that the Home Ministry will resume talks if Sonam Wangchuk ends the hunger strike. More and more people are joining the protests, around 100 villagers from other areas have arrived and will join the hunger strike,” Mr. Lakruk said.

In January 2023, following continuous campaigning by groups in Kargil and Leh, the government formed a High-Powered Committee (HPC) headed by Minister of State Nityanand Rai to look into their demands. The HPC last met on May 27. The members met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter’s residence the following day.