KDA alleges Centre using ‘delay tactics’; warns any attempt to disrupt peaceful protests could bring administration and people face-to-face
HABEEL SAGAR
KARGIL: The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the UT Ladakh administration, accusing them of allegedly trying to divide Ladakh along regional and community lines and weaken the unity between the KDA and Leh Apex Body.
Addressing a press conference, KDA Co-Chairman Asgar Ali Karbalie alleged that the BJP and its “agents” were attempting to create divisions between regions and communities by using different tactics and “lollipops” to divert people from Ladakh’s core demands.
He claimed that the people of Ladakh had rejected such attempts and continued to stand firmly behind the KDA and Leh Apex Body. “They are trying to create fights between one region and another and one community and another. This entire game is being played by the BJP and its people,” Karbalie alleged.
He further accused the UT administration, including the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary and Commissioner, of functioning like political actors. “The entire UT administration, including the LG, Chief Secretary and Commissioner, is working like political people,” Karbalie said, alleging that efforts were being made to enter different regions and sub-regions, create divisions and “break KDA, break Apex and break Ladakh unity”.
Taking aim at BJP claims that the Centre had already delivered several of Ladakh’s demands, Karbalie questioned why the September 24 unrest occurred if the government had genuinely been addressing the region’s concerns.
He referred to the deaths, injuries and detentions following the September 24 episode and said, “If all this was being done by them, September 24 would not have happened. Four youths would not have lost their lives, more than 80 people would not have been injured and more than 80 people would not have been detained.”
Karbalie also referred to the detention of prominent environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, alleging that he had subsequently been sent to Jodhpur jail. He said the KDA and Apex Body had raised these issues directly during their discussions with the Centre.
In one of the strongest statements of the briefing, Karbalie warned that although Ladakh’s people had remained peaceful throughout their movement, any attempt to disrupt peaceful demonstrations could result in a confrontation between the people and the administration. He said the people of Ladakh had been peaceful from the beginning and would remain peaceful until the end.
“If any attempt is made to disturb this peaceful demonstration, protest or agitation, there will be a face-off between the people of Ladakh and the administration,” he warned. At the same time, he said the KDA and Apex Body were committed to keeping the proposed Kargil-Leh march peaceful and had created a volunteer mechanism to manage participants and logistics.
Karbalie also accused the Ministry of Home Affairs of employing “delay tactics” despite negotiations on Ladakh’s four-point agenda having reached what he described as the final stage.
He said the Centre was expected to place a draft before the KDA and Apex Body in the first week of September covering the proposed legislature, executive structure, financial powers and constitutional safeguards.
According to Karbalie, the latest discussions had included an executive with a Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, financial powers for Ladakh and protections under Articles 370 and 371. He, however, expressed frustration over the absence of a formal invitation for the next meeting, calling the delay “unfortunate”.
Once the draft is received, he said, the KDA and Apex Body would examine it with legal and constitutional experts before submitting their own recommendations to the MHA.
Against this backdrop, the KDA announced its full support for a proposed Kargil-to-Leh peace march from September 10 to 26, led by civil society representatives from different parts of the country. Karbalie said a delegation led by social activist Sandeep Pandey would arrive in Kargil on September 9, with participants coming from different states and including parliamentarians.
The march will raise issues including statehood, Sixth Schedule protection and justice for the victims of the September 24 violence, he said. A public rally will be held in Kargil on September 10 before the padayatra begins. The march is scheduled to pass through different locations before reaching Leh on September 26, where a larger Ladakh-level programme will be organised.
Karbalie appealed to people across Kargil and Ladakh—irrespective of religion, sect, region, language, age or gender—to participate. “This is an issue of your and my future, our lands, our children, our culture, religion and traditions,” he said, urging people to make the September 10 rally a landmark mobilisation in Ladakh’s history.
Karbalie insisted that the KDA and Apex Body would remain focused on their original four-point agenda despite recent administrative announcements, including the creation of new districts. He said the alliance would not allow itself to be diverted by what he described as government tactics.
“We will never deviate from our agenda,” he said, reiterating the demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards.
On the question of new councils, Karbalie said the KDA wanted institutions backed by constitutional guarantees, arguing that the demand was for a more powerful council under the Sixth Schedule rather than arrangements without constitutional protection.
Karbalie claimed that trade bodies, transporters, contractors, religious organisations and other stakeholders had assured the KDA of their support for the upcoming mobilisation. He said more than 50 volunteers would be deployed to assist with transportation, accommodation, security coordination and other logistical arrangements.
The KDA Co-Chairman also appealed to civil society and human-rights and tribal-rights groups from outside Ladakh to join the march.
With the proposed MHA draft expected in the coming days and the Kargil-Leh march set to bring the issue back onto the streets, Karbalie’s remarks indicate that the KDA is preparing for a renewed phase of mobilisation—while simultaneously accusing the Centre and UT administration of attempting to dilute and divide the movement.
