Shimla, Sept 25,
The Himalaya Niti Abhiyan has expressed strong support for the ongoing non-violent movement in Ladakh, which has persisted for the past five years. The campaign, led by local residents seeking recognition of their democratic rights, has faced repeated delays in addressing their demands. Recently, some young protestors resorted to isolated incidents of unrest, highlighting the deteriorating health of participants who had undertaken hunger strikes to press their grievances.
Kulbhushan Upmanyu, President of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, and Guman Singh, its Coordinator, welcomed appeals by Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk to maintain peace and urged young participants to follow his call. The group strongly condemned both local and central authorities for a negligent approach that has complicated resolution of legitimate demands.
Also read:Protests in Ladakh Over Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike: Four Dead, Dozens Injured as Himalayan Voices Rise for Land and Environment
“The government has a responsibility to ensure that this peaceful movement does not turn violent. The demands of Ladakh’s citizens are justified, including inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, restoration of local governance, and creation of employment opportunities,†said Upmanyu.
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan emphasized that the movement’s participants have gone to great lengths to convey their demands, including a month-long march from Ladakh to Delhi last year led by Sonam Wangchuk. The repeated resurgence of protests underscores a failure on the part of authorities to engage meaningfully with the public.
The group called for immediate dialogue addressing the movement’s four core demands: granting full statehood to Ladakh, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule to ensure local control over resources, allocation of two Lok Sabha seats for the region, and prioritization of locals in government jobs.
Highlighting broader concerns, the campaign warned that unchecked exploitation of local resources—such as solar energy projects and rare earth minerals by large corporations—poses serious environmental and economic risks. “Protecting Ladakh’s fragile glaciers and environment is a matter of national interest. Decisions must be made with local and ecological considerations at the forefront,†Singh said.
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan strongly condemned recent incidents of violence and urged authorities to actively pursue peace initiatives and engage directly with Ladakh’s citizens. They emphasized that, given Ladakh’s strategic location and commitment to national security, empowering its people through democratic channels will strengthen both regional and national interests.
On Wednesday protest in Ladakh turned violent, due to which four people lost life and many were injured.
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