Leh Apex Body cancels border march in Ladakh, says will continue peaceful agitation

April 06, 2024 04:36 pm | Updated 06:40 pm IST - Leh

The Leh Apex Body (LAB), on April 6, withdrew their proposed march to the Changthang border with China on April 7, saying it is doing so in the interest of people even as it accused the administration of turning Leh into a “war zone”.

The LAB said they have already achieved their objective of creating awareness among the people of the country about the plight of farmers. They said the farmers are losing prime pasture land to huge industrial plants in the south and “Chinese encroachments” in the north.

They said they will continue their peaceful peaceful agitation in support of their various demands, especially statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the sixth schedule of the Constitution.

Leh turned into a war zone ahead of border march, says Sonam Wangchuk

Earlier, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, spearheading the protest for Ladakh’s Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, termed the situation in Leh “grim and fearful”, ahead of the proposed ‘Pashmina March’ on April 7 “to highlight shrinking pastures”.

“Leh is being turned into a war zone with disproportionate force, barricades, smoke grenades. There is a lot of fear. The situation could go out of control,” Mr. Wangchuk, who recently completed a 21-day protest fast, said.

Also read: Why are Ladakh’s residents on a hunger strike? | Explained

The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant-Governor’s administration is forcing youths and activists, including singers, to “sign bonds or face arrests”, he alleged. “It seems the government is over-reacting. There have only been peaceful protests in the past 32 days in Leh. The move to impose Section 144 is only if there is fear of bloodshed. We have been peaceful all along,” Mr. Wangchuk said.

He criticised the latest government circulars, which say teargas shells and smoke grenades are being allotted to security forces in riot gear to stop the march.

“Why is the government shaken by our protests? National security strategists have been highlighting the sensitivity of the region. However, this government neither bothers about national security nor peoples’ interest. Hurting local interests is not in national interest. Our protest is only to remind the government of its promises,” Mr. Wangchuk said.

The activist accused the government of plotting to turn “a most peaceful movement violent and then brand Ladakhis as anti-nationals”.

“The government seems worried only about Ladakh’s effects on their votes and on corporate mining lobbies,” he said.

He urged locals intending to join the march on April 7 to avoid doing so in view of the barricades set up on roads leading to the protest site. “I urge all supporters across the country to hold protests at their respective places and devote all Sundays to ‘rashtra ke naam’ (in the name of the nation), so that we see an India that keeps its promise,” Mr. Wangchuk said.

The Ladakh administration has on Friday imposed Section 144 to ban rallies, intends to curb Internet services in the region ahead of the proposed march to the border to highlight pastures that the protestors claim have been lost to Chinese incursion.

(with inputs from PTI)