3-day hunger strike begins in Kargil for statehood & sixth schedule demand

Kargil, Aug 09: Local leaders and activists in Ladakh launched a three-day hunger strike in Kargil on Saturday to push for four key demands statehood for Ladakh, inclusion of the region in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, two separate Lok Sabha seats, and an independent Public Service Commission.The protest, organised by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) at Husseini Park, has also invited leaders from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to join the agitation in a show of unity. The two groups have jointly led the movement for the past five years, holding multiple rounds of talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ High-Powered Committee (HPC). Placards bearing slogans such as “End colonial treatment, restore democracy” and “Statehood – Sixth Schedule and strong Ladakh” were displayed at the venue as participants chanted in support of their demands.KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai said the strike was a continuation of their long-standing struggle.“Our most basic demands are statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. Despite repeated assurances, there has been no concrete discussion. The government is deliberately delaying talks,” he said.Karbalai recalled that in May, HPC chairman and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, along with the Home Secretary, had promised that discussions would start the following month. Nothing has happened so far, forcing us to launch this strike,” he said.KDA leader Sajjad Kargili accused the government of reneging on its commitments.We are protesting peacefully and democratically. This treatment must end, and democracy should be restored in Ladakh,” he said.