The Leh Apex Body (LAB) withdrew their proposed march on Saturday. The rally was supposed to go through the Changthang border with China on April 7. The step was taken to ‘avoid confrontation with law-enforcement agencies’ and for the interest of people.
Why a step back?
The administration was accused of turning Leh into a ‘war zone’ after the Pashmina march alongside LAC, by the LAP. It is believed that the aim was to raise awareness about the plight of farmers, who were losing their land to industrialists in the south and to ‘Chinese encroachments’ in the north, as per insights from a LAB leader. In addition to this Chering Dorjay, chairman, LAP and Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist, were also present in the protest rally.
Experts believe that ‘The farmers are losing prime pasture land to huge industrial plants in the south and Chinese encroachments in the north,’ LAB explained. They also added that they have already created awareness about the sad state of farmers among the people of the country.
What lies ahead
The LAB leaders are expected to continue their rally in a peaceful manner through chain hunger strikes and protests. Furthermore, Wangchuk explained that “Looking at the situation in Leh, this government acts like a mad elephant having no care for national security or people’s sentiments and their problems. Their only concern is winning elections and it can stop people from marching even at the cost of using violence.”
However, “We are concerned about national security and the peaceful atmosphere. Secondly, our aim to generate awareness in the country about the ground situation in Ladakh has been achieved, so we are withdrawing the proposed border march in the interest of people and to avoid confrontation with the law-enforcement agencies,” Wangchuk concluded.