Headquarters Row: Kargil observes shutdown, protests in Jammu

The Kargil town and its adjoining areas Monday observed a shutdown to protest the decision of the governor’s administration to set up the permanent headquarters of the newly-created Ladakh division in Leh.

All shops and other business establishments remained closed, while roads wore a deserted look. The call for shutdown was given by local leaders in Kargil.

   

The people of Kargil are demanding that these offices be allowed to function on rotational basis—in Kargil during summers and in Leh during winters.

Meanwhile, Governor Satya Pal Malik has said a committee of secretaries has been formed to ensure justice for the Kargil district.

“The divisional status for Ladakh was a long-standing demand (of the people of the region). We have formed a committee of secretaries which will look into the issue so that Kargil gets justice,” the governor told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Katra.

Malik replied in negative when asked whether his administration plans to give divisional status to any other region of the state.

 “It (divisional status) was imperative for both the districts of Leh and Kargil…let those talking about it come to power and do so,” the governor said.

The Kargil residents including their leaders affiliated with different political parties assembled at Karbala complex in the high-security Wazarat road in Jammu Monday morning and took out a rally which ended peacefully at the Press Club, Jammu, after passing through the Residency Road.

Prominent among those who took part in the rally included legislative council chairman Haji Anayat Ali, chief executive councilor of Ladakh autonomous hill development  council, Kargil, Feroz Khan, former ministers Qamar Ali Akhoon, AsgarKarbalai, Nissar Ali, former MP Hassan Khan.

Ali said: “We welcome divisional status but don’t understand the reason behind discrimination with Kargil. We seek justice for entire Ladakh. Our protest is under national tricolor because we have full faith in the Constitution of India which guarantees equal rights to every citizen.”

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