2024-04-07 16:48:36
Leh: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has withdrawn the call for a Pashmina March from Leh to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Sunday, April 7. On Saturday, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) withdrew the proposed march to the Changthang border with China. It said that this step has been taken in the interest of the people. LAB alleged that the administration has turned Leh into a war zone. It said it was withdrawing the proposed march to avoid any confrontation with law-enforcement agencies.
Major pasture lands are being lost due to Chinese encroachment
LAB leaders, including organization president Charing Dorje and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, said at a press conference in Leh that they had already achieved their objective of creating awareness among the people of the country about the plight of farmers. They are reportedly losing prime grazing lands to huge industrial plants in the south and Chinese encroachment in the north.
Will continue our struggle peacefully
LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) are leading the movement demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. LAB leaders said they would continue their struggle peacefully through successive hunger strikes and protests.
Sonam Wangchuk: Section 144 imposed before Sonam Wangchuk’s march to China border, internet also banned in Ladakh?
This government is acting like a mad elephant
Wangchuk told reporters that looking at the current situation (in Leh), this government is acting like a mad elephant. It does not care about national security or the feelings of the people and their problems. Its only concern is to win elections and it may stop people from marching even at the cost of violence.
We are concerned about national security and peaceful environment
He said that we are concerned about national security and peaceful environment. Secondly, our objective of creating awareness in the country about the ground situation in Ladakh has been achieved, therefore we are withdrawing the proposed border march in the interest of the people and to avoid confrontation with law-enforcement agencies.
Leh administration had imposed restrictions
Earlier, in a clear move aimed at stopping the march, Leh District Magistrate Santosh Sukhdev on Friday ordered that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will remain in force on April 7. He directed that no procession, rally or march should be taken out without his prior permission.
The internet was also guarded
In a separate order, Ladakh Additional Director General of Police SD Singh Jamwal has restricted the internet speed of 3G, 4G and 5G connections and mobile data services and public 5G Wi-Fi for 24 hours from 6 pm on April 6 within a 10 kilometer radius of Leh city. Ordered to reduce Fi facilities to 2G.
Demand to normalize internet service
In another order, the Leh District Magistrate banned posting or sharing such messages which are likely to disturb communal harmony and peace and which may lead to law and order situation in the district. The LAB demanded immediate withdrawal of prohibitory orders and restoration of internet services at normal speed to avoid any inconvenience to the people, especially patients, tourists and students.