Thousands Brave Biting Cold To March For Ladakh's Statehood. WATCH

Thousands brave the freezing cold as they march demanding statehood for Ladakh.

People participate in the 'Leh Chalo Andolan', organised by the Kargil Democratic Alliance and the Apex Body Leh, in Leh on Saturday.

Source : ANI

Despite the cold, enormous protest rallies erupted in Ladakh's Leh district on Saturday as people staged a total shutdown to advocate for their demands, including Ladakh's statehood, news agency ANI reported. Thousands marched through the streets, demanding that the region be included in the Constitution's sixth schedule for tribal status, job reservations for locals, and parliamentary seats for both Leh and Kargil. Videos circulating on social media showed a massive flock armed with banners and yelling slogans.

#WATCH | Leh, Ladakh: Thousands brave the freezing cold as they march demanding statehood for Ladakh and protections under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution for the Union Territory. (03.02) pic.twitter.com/gwsiGZBxXc

— ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

Ladakh became a Union territory without a legislature when Articles 370 and 35A were repealed, and it has remained a focus point since Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union territories on August 5, 2019.

The shutdown was arranged by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who sent a memorandum to the Union Home Ministry on January 23 requesting statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.

Speaking with ANI, Legal adviser of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance Haji Ghulam Mustafa stated: “Ever since Ladakh has become a UT, Apex body and KDA have had a demand on the four-point agenda. All our powers which were people-centric have weakened. When we were a part of J&K, we had 4 members in the assembly and 2 in the legislative council. Now we have no representation in the assembly. This has always been our demand that the people of Ladakh should have representation in the assembly and that we should get statehood."

#WATCH | Ladakh: Legal Adviser of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance Haji Ghulam Mustafa says, "Ever since Ladakh has become a UT, Apex body and KDA have had a demand on the four-point agenda. All our powers which were people-centric have weakened. When we were a part… pic.twitter.com/op0x6Oablo

— ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

Representatives also presented a draft bill to alter the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 in order to grant Ladakh statehood, according to India Today.

A high-level committee chaired by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai has been meeting with delegates from Leh and Kargil to address their concerns.

The memorandum was sparked by the Supreme Court's recent decision to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the imbalance since Ladakh remained a Union territory.