A three-day hunger strike is underway in Kargil to press for Ladakh’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule and other constitutional rights, amid growing resentment over New Delhi’s failure to resume stalled talks with local representatives.
The protest, which began on Saturday, is being jointly supported by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). It will conclude on August 11 with a public meeting, where participants from all walks of life will urge the Indian government to address the long-pending demands peacefully.
Prominent climate activist and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Sonam Wangchuk, speaking to the media, said, “People cannot be happy only with development if their voices are not heard.”
“Development is there in China as well… but are the people of Tibet happy? No, because that development is neither in their hands nor for them. If this is repeated in Ladakh, it will be a cage made of gold,” Wangchuk warned. He added that there is no platform for people to decide the kind of development they want, and that decisions are being imposed from outside.
The activist lamented that the dialogue process between the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and Ladakh representatives had stalled despite repeated assurances.
Wangchuk cautioned that instability in border regions like Ladakh was dangerous for India’s security. He accused “short-sighted leaders” of prioritising the interests of a few companies over the rights of the local population, saying such policies would harm India and its people. “If we are forced, there can be a longer hunger strike of five to six weeks, and even repeated marches from Leh to Delhi,” he said.
Since its illegal separation from Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, Ladakh has witnessed repeated protests over constitutional safeguards, domicile rights, and representation, with statehood and Sixth Schedule protection remaining at the core of the struggle.
