Ladakh Activists to Launch Hunger Strike Over Delay in Talks on Statehood, Sixth Schedule

SRINAGAR: Activists in Ladakh pressing for statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule are set to launch a three-day hunger strike from August 9, citing the Centre’s inaction on holding promised talks to address their core demands.

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Leh Apex Body (LAB), the two principal representative groups from the region, announced the protest on Thursday, saying the delay by the Union Government in convening the next round of talks with the High Powered Committee (HPC) has deepened local frustration.

The HPC, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and comprising senior government officials, was set up to deliberate on a wide range of issues affecting Ladakh. These include the protection of Ladakh’s unique cultural identity, language, land and job rights, as well as the strengthening of the autonomous hill development councils in Leh and Kargil.

Speaking to the media in Kargil, KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai said, “During our last meeting with the HPC more than two months ago, significant progress was made on matters such as domicile, recruitment, and reservation. We were assured that a subsequent meeting would be held within a month to discuss our primary demands—statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion.”

“But that meeting has still not taken place. The continued delay is unacceptable,” Karbalai said.

The hunger strike is scheduled to be held from August 9 to 11 at Hussaini Park in Kargil. Both the KDA and LAB will jointly coordinate the protest as part of their broader strategy to push for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh.

The agitation for statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion has been ongoing since Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. Activists argue that without special constitutional protections, the region’s fragile ecology, tribal rights, and local autonomy are at risk.

The list of long-standing demands also includes separate Lok Sabha constituencies for Leh and Kargil (which currently share a single seat), and the establishment of a dedicated Public Service Commission (PSC) for Ladakh.

Karbalai said the LAB leadership has also been invited to participate in the hunger strike and join forces in formulating a collective strategy to compel action from the Centre.