The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has announced a significant protest march scheduled for September 20 in Kargil. The demonstration aims to demand justice for four individuals who lost their lives in police firing in Leh last year and to protest what the alliance describes as the central government’s lack of seriousness and sincerity in discussions concerning Ladakh‘s demands. The KDA also rejected the compensation package recently announced by the Lieutenant Governor for victims of the September 24 violence in Leh, deeming it insufficient and calling for higher restitution for those killed and injured. Furthermore, the alliance is demanding the immediate and complete withdrawal of all cases registered against individuals arrested in the aftermath of the Leh violence.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the KDA, in conjunction with the Leh Apex Body (LAB), has been at the forefront of an ongoing agitation since Ladakh was granted Union Territory status in August 2019. Their primary demands include the restoration of statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the region. These two groups have engaged in multiple rounds of talks with the central government since 2021. However, the most recent round of discussions, held on September 9 in Delhi, was characterized as “unproductive” by the KDA, prompting warnings of renewed agitation.
Defending the stance of the agitating groups, KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai stated that they had anticipated a concrete draft from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) outlining the proposed UT-level legislative, governance, and financial structure. However, no such proposal was presented during the meeting. Karbalai, speaking alongside other KDA members, including co-chairman Sajjad Kargili, at a press conference, noted that the September 9 meeting offered no new or inclusive proposals, reiterating points previously discussed in a sub-committee meeting on May 22. He refuted claims that the meeting was fruitful, pointing out that even an additional secretary-rank officer acknowledged the lack of new developments after the KDA pressed for the meeting’s minutes.
Karbalai also raised concerns about potential mistrust-building efforts and suggested that future sub-committee or high-powered committee meetings concerning Ladakh should be fully video-recorded and live-streamed. He questioned the rationale behind asking the KDA and LAB to respond to seven questions regarding the proposed UT-level structure when the MHA itself had not produced a draft defining its legislative, executive, administrative, and financial powers. Karbalai emphasized that the draft should originate from the MHA, as it was projected as the intended approach to ensure the success of the dialogue. He reiterated that these issues had already been thoroughly discussed in the May 22 meeting and two subsequent informal meetings held in Leh.
The planned September 20 rally in Kargil will also serve as a tribute to the four individuals who perished in the Leh violence, and will be used to reassert the demand for justice for them. Karbalai described September 24 as a “black day” in Ladakh’s history, alleging that police opened fire on peaceful and unarmed protesters advocating for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule. He criticized the compensation offered by the Lieutenant Governor, which included Rs 15 lakh for the families of those deceased, Rs 3 lakh for critically injured individuals, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries, deeming it inadequate. Karbalai demanded substantially higher compensation, ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore for the families of those who died, Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore for the critically injured, and Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for those with minor injuries. He also called for the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed against individuals apprehended in connection with the protests.
KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili underscored that the ongoing struggle is not confined to any specific community, region, or political party but is for the collective future of the entire Ladakh region. He attributed the region’s ability to have its voice heard to its unity and cautioned against the imposition of decisions without the consent of its populace. The KDA leaders further demanded that no significant policy or administrative decisions impacting Ladakh, particularly concerning land, resources, or governance, should be made by the local administration until the proposed UT-level governance structure is finalized and formally approved through the requisite constitutional and parliamentary processes. They insisted that decisions related to land allotment, notifications, and other critical issues be held in abeyance until an agreed-upon framework is implemented.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.