As the Ladakh agitation gears up, the authorities have clamped down by imposing a mobile network suspension and Section 144 ahead. The march that was slated to be attended by scores of people. Protestors demanding greater autonomy for Ladakh and action to preserve the fast-deteriorating fragile ecosystem of Ladakh have been dismayed by the news.
After the move by the district administration, Sonam Wangchuk took to X, formerly Twitter, to write that Leh was being turned into a ‘warzone’, “LEH IS BEING TURNED INTO A WAR ZONE with disproportionate force, barricades, smoke grenades. Attempts to arrest peaceful youth leaders even singers continue. Seems they want to turn a most peaceful movement violent & then brand Ladakhis as anti-nationals. Govt seems worried only about Ladakh’s effects on their votes and on mining lobbies… not the people here nor even national security.”
These measures are said to be precautionary measures ahead of the planned Pashmina March which was to take place in areas near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the Changthang region of Ladakh. The march was also against alleged Chinese encroachments into Ladakh’s grazing area.
Additionally, mobile data services in Leh will undergo a temporary suspension and reduced speed following police orders. District magistrate Santosh Sukhdeva stated that there was evidence for potential disruptions to peace and public order in the district which is what led to these measures.
As of now, the District Magistrate has declared that no procession, rally, march, or similar activities shall be conducted without prior approval. It also specifies that people are not permitted to use vehicles with mounted loudspeakers or any other loudspeaker without prior approval. Interestingly, the public order has also mentioned that the no one shall make any statements which could potentially ‘disturb the communal harmony and public tranquillity’, and says that any such move would be a law and order issue.
This news comes in as 250-300 women ended their 10-day fast, fast after they continued the relay fast after Wangchuk, according to Economic Times.
The Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance have been holding protest demonstrations and hunger strikes demanding statehood for Ladakh, which is now a union territory, and also demanding its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the constitution. An engineer by profession and a social reformer Wangchuk is also a winner of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, is also part of the group leading the protests.
The Pashmina March was reportedly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Wangchuk stated, according to PTI, “We are followers of Gandhi’s Satyagraha. We are demanding the fulfilment of the promises made to us by this (BJP) government through its manifestos which led its candidates to win parliamentary polls and hill council polls in Leh.”
The protests appear to be gaining support outside of Ladakh too. Last week, actor Prakash Raj visited the protest. Similarly, this week a group of people from various regions of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, and even Latur, have also pledged to travel all the way to Ladakh and join the protest.
According to the Free Press Journal, Dilip Jain, a Mumbai-based founder of the Djed Foundation, has initiated the Friends of Ladakh movement during Wangchuk’s fast. Speaking to the Free Press Journal, Dilip said that he will be among the Mumbaikars participating in the walk for Ladakh’s rights, “I reached Ladakh on the early morning of Friday to join the march. We will walk to learn how much land has been taken over by the industries hampering the livelihood of the herders. The temperature is very extreme here and therefore we are expecting only around 40 to 50 people from outside Ladakh to join this walk.”
Bharat Solanki, the Jammu & Kashmir incharge of the All India Congress Committee took to X to speak out in support of the protests on what he termed the “ill behaviour of the insecure government”.
After curbing mobile data and imposing section 144 in the region, the administration at the behest of BJP is threatening the volunteers to not participate in the peaceful Pashmina March on April 7.
Do listen to @Wangchuk66 on ill behavior by the insecure government.#SaveLadakh pic.twitter.com/DS6DaMEwBg— Bharat Solanki (@BharatSolankee) April 6, 2024
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