Ladakh's Kargil region may witness 'complete shutdown' today

Srinagar: Civil society in Ladakh's Kargil region has called for a complete shutdown of the division, which comprises the four districts of Sanko, Drass, Kargil and ZanakR, on Tuesday. They are demanding the deferment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections, which they fear will be conducted in winter when a major section of the population migrates to Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of northern India.

Political parties across the spectrum, religious organisations, transporters, trade bodies and hoteliers have supported the strike call. A candlelight march will also be organised on Tuesday evening in Kargil town where participants will demand restoration of democracy in the Union Territory.

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"The UT administration is issuing notifications every day and thus unilaterally imposing its decisions on the people of Ladakh. In Leh, here and in every corner of Ladakh, people are unhappy. Our genuine demands have been ignored," Sajjad Kargili, co-chairman of Kargil Democratic Alliance, said during a press briefing. He was flanked by the Lok Sabha member from Ladakh, Mohammad Haneefa.

"We have called for a shutdown on November 10 and a candlelight march for democracy on the same evening. They have made these councils almost worthless and now, with the issuance of so many notifications, they are planning to hold polls in December, when many of our people are not in Ladakh as weather conditions are extreme here," said Kargili.

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He accused the administration of stealing "representation" from the people of Ladakh. "(Chief election commissioner) Gyanesh Kumar is accused of stealing votes. Here, the administration has stolen our representation and our assembly," he said.

"I met the LG (lieutenant governor) as well as the state election commissioner, stressing that elections for the council should not happen in December or winter, when more than 25% of our population, mostly elders, migrate to other parts of the country due to harsh weather," said Haneefa.