Leh/Jammu, Nov 13 (PTI) Ahead of the upcoming polls to panchayats, municipalities and hill councils, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) announced plans on Friday to intensify its ongoing agitation, while former member of Parliament Thupstan Chhewang appealed to the people of Ladakh to participate in the democratic exercise in large numbers.
In a related development, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has questioned the nature of his confinement in a social media post, alleging that he is being forcibly prevented from leaving his residence.
The panchayat and municipal elections are scheduled for November 21, followed by polls to all the eight Ladakh autonomous hill development councils on December 4.
LAB chairman Chering Dorje Lakruk, who is leading a sit-in protest in Leh, announced that the agitation would be intensified from Saturday, with religious leaders expected to lead a proposed hunger strike, while public participation would remain voluntary.
Clarifying that the agitation is unrelated to the upcoming elections, Lakruk said it was planned well in advance to press the government to resume dialogue on constitutional safeguards and the demand for a Union Territory-level elected government headed by a chief minister.
He said the decision to intensify the movement follows the government’s failure to hold the proposed October 22 dialogue with Ladakh’s representatives.
“We are in complete coordination with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and in the coming days, we will intensify our agitation in both Leh and Kargil,” he said.
Besides resumption of talks, Lakruk said the agitation also focuses on the liquor policy, protection of land, employment and other safeguards for Ladakh.
Questioning the timing of the hill council elections, he alleged that it looks like an exercise akin to “Operation Lotus” to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Meanwhile, Chhewang has appealed to people across the region to participate wholeheartedly in the hill council elections, describing the polls as a historic opportunity to strengthen grassroots-level democracy and empower local communities.
In a press statement, Chhewang, one of the founding members of the LAB, urged women to come forward and participate in the electoral process, pointing out that one-third of the seats have been reserved for them for the first time.
He said the reservation offers women an important opportunity to assume leadership roles and become active participants in decision making and governance.
Highlighting the significance of the elections following the creation of six new districts, Chhewang said Ladakh now has eight districts and argued that each should eventually have its own elected hill council to ensure that governance reaches people at their doorsteps.
Welcoming the decision of the BJP and the Congress to contest the elections, he expressed hope that other political parties and groups would also participate, thereby strengthening democratic representation.
Reflecting on Ladakh’s political journey over the last 70 years, Chhewang recalled the region’s longstanding struggle for separation from Jammu and Kashmir and the attainment of Union Territory status in 2019. He described the establishment of the Autonomous Hill Development Council in 1995 as an important milestone achieved through sustained public pressure and collective efforts.
He also highlighted Ladakh’s contribution to national unity and security, stating that the people of the region have consistently stood with the country and the Army in safeguarding India’s territorial integrity.
“We must not allow these hard-won gains to be undermined or slip away. Anyone expressing sympathy towards China, whether openly or by implication, should understand that people like me will stand firm against any such designs. Our democratic rights are of paramount importance to us. Equally, India’s pride and honour, along with our deep reverence for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, remain non-negotiable,” he said.
Chhewang called for unity, peace and responsible participation, particularly of young voters, to shape the future of their respective districts.
Wangchuk, in a Facebook post, said Supreme Court lawyers have sought a clarification on whether he is under a 60-day house arrest, as he claimed, or has merely been advised to stay home, as stated by Ladakh’s Director General of Police (DGP) Anand Jain in a post on X on Wednesday.
Citing ambiguity in the magistrate’s order, Wangchuk said he conducted a videographed experiment to ascertain whether he is free to leave his residence. The video shows a police officer stopping him when he attempts to step outside.
“The uncertainty is now over. I am not allowed to leave. This is more than advice to stay home; I am being forcibly confined to my residence — effectively placed under house arrest,” Wangchuk said.
In another significant development, Ladakh Buddhist Association vice-president Tenzin Motup has resigned from his position, citing institutional concerns and calling for greater autonomy, political neutrality, financial transparency and collective decision making within the association. PTI TAS RC
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