Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Mar 16: Thousands of people participated in a peaceful protest rally organized by the Leh Apex Body in Leh on Monday in support of Ladakh’s long-standing demands, including Sixth Schedule and full statehood.
People also welcomed the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk following the revocation of the NSA imposed on him.
The rally began from Singge Namgyal Chowk in the morning and proceeded through the town to Leh Polo Ground, where a massive public gathering was held.
Notably, almost all shops in Leh town remained closed during the protest march, even though the Leh Apex Body had not called for a market shutdown.
Leh Apex Body had before hand clarified that it was not asking shopkeepers to close their businesses. However, the leadership had said that if people chose to shut their shops voluntarily in support of the movement, it would be a welcome gesture.
On the day of the rally, almost every shop in the town remained closed until the protest concluded, reflecting widespread public support for the demands.
The rally witnessed participation of thousands of people from different parts of Leh district, with many travelling long distances to join the demonstration.
People raised slogans such as “We want Statehood” and “We want Sixth Schedule” and carried placards that read the same slogans.
Several leaders addressed the mammoth gathering, including Apex Co-Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook, President of the Ladakh Gompa Association Gelong Stanzin Dorjay, General Secretary of the Women’s Wing of the Ladakh Buddhist Association Deskit Angmo, Advocate Ramzan from Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam, Sheikh Nazir from Anjuman Imamia, youth leader Nordon Shonu, and many other representatives.
The rally turned highly emotional when the son of martyr Tsewang Tharchin addressed the gathering and raised his voice in support of ‘Sixth Schedule’ for Ladakh. Recalling his father’s sacrifice, he said Tsewang Tharchin had lost his life during the firing by security forces on September 24 last year during a violent incident.
Addressing the gathering, Apex Co-Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said there had been repeated attempts by some groups to malign his image as a Buddhist leader. He warned that such efforts would never succeed and asserted that such campaigns would not weaken the movement for Ladakh’s demands.
The rally witnessed participation of thousands of people from different parts of Leh district, with many travelling from far-flung areas to take part in the demonstration.
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