By Tehelka Web Desk
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has warned of an intensified agitation if the government fails to make concrete progress on its key demands during its September 9 meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi.
The LAB has been seeking legislation for Ladakh at the Union Territory level, safeguards under Article 371, withdrawal of cases filed following the September 24 violence last year, compensation for victims and publication of the inquiry commission report. The LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance have been jointly pursuing these demands since Ladakh was granted Union Territory status in August 2019 and have held several rounds of talks with the Centre since 2021.
LAB chairman Chering Dorje Lakruk said the organisation welcomed the upcoming meeting but would judge its outcome based on the progress made on its demands.
“If the meeting produces a positive outcome… and if there is constructive and result-oriented dialogue on these issues, we will welcome it. Otherwise, we will intensify our agitation very strongly,” he said.
Lakruk also expressed disappointment over the delay in the report of the inquiry commission set up to investigate the September 24 incidents, in which four people were killed.
He questioned the continued pendency of cases against those booked in connection with the violence. While welcoming the reported move to withdraw cases related to the July 20 Jantar Mantar incident in Delhi, he accused the Centre of “double standard” in its treatment of Ladakh.
According to Lakruk, 25 of the 80 cases related to last year’s violence have so far been withdrawn.
“We are all Indians, and everyone should be treated equally. The lives of the people of Ladakh are not so cheap,” he said, while demanding compensation for the families of those killed and injured during the agitation.
Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said the LAB was observing September as a “Martyrs’ Month” in memory of those killed, injured and jailed last year.
