Kargil: A massive protest rally was taken out in Kargil town Sunday on the call of a conglomerate of religious, political and social organisations protesting J&K Governors decision to station newly created Ladakh divisions headquarters at Leh and not in Kargil.
Protesters are demanding rotational basis headquarters, summer six months in Kargil and six months of winter at Leh.
This is for the first time that all religious organizations, including, Anjuman Jamiat Ullama Isna Ashirya, Kargil, Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust-Kargil, Anjuman Sahib Zaman- Sankoo, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat-Kargil, Anjuman Sufia Noorbakhshia and Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist groups besides all political parties joined the protests.
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Even Acting CEC Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council, Kargil, Nasir Hussain Munshi joined the protests.
The speakers addressing the protesters said that Governor Administrations discriminatory order has for the first time united all he stake holders of Kargil and this wave will not stop till the decision is reviewed and the Headquarter of the Division is made functional on rotational basis six month of summer in Kargil and six months of winter at Leh.
People from all walks of life, including politicians, religious leaders and social workers, participated in the rally which started from Islamia school chowk at 10.30 am and concluded at Baroo after marching the streets of the town for nearly four hours.
Urging the Governor Satya Pal Malik to review his decision, the participants were seen chanting slogans throughout the rally, pledging support to the “united movement” in support of the “genuine rights” of the people of Kargil.
In a major decision on Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir administration sanctioned creation of a separate administrative and revenue division for Ladakh, with its headquarters at Leh.
Cutting across party lines, prominent politicians from Kargil affiliated with the National Conference, the PDP and the Congress on Saturday came together and threatened mass agitation if the governor administration did not review its decision to permanently post the divisional commissioner and inspector general of police headquarters in Leh.
“The people of Kargil are united in support of the demand for rotation of headquarters in Kargil during summer and in Leh during winter.
If our demand is not met, we will resign en masse from the posts we are holding in the democratic institutions, whether it is chairman of the legislative council, councilors in the LAHDC or panchayat institutions,” chief executive councillor of LAHDC, Kargil, Feroz Khan had said.
Khan, who was flanked by other prominent leaders, including chairman of legislative council Haji Anayat Ali and former MLA and congress leader Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai, said they are not against the divisional status to Ladakh region comprising both Leh and Kargil districts but are against posting the divisional headquarters in Leh permanently.
CEC Munshi said that Council will lead and start a Civil Disobedience Movement against SRO 110 till the decision is not reviewed and urged the Governor administration to reconsider the controversial decision and modify SRO 110.
Journalist and social activist Sajad Hussain said that the move is deeply resented by the residents of Kargil division.
They (Govt) are pushing people towards separatism by such discriminatory decisions. It was already decided by the leaders of Leh with a full consensus that the office headquarters will be set-up at both places. For summers it will be at Kargil and in Leh for winters, Husain told Kashmir Observer.
Citing reasons that in summers the Secretariat is functioning at Srinagar and from Kargil, it would be easier to operate. And in winters it is being shifted to Jammu, so from Leh, it is easier to stay connected as there is air connectivity to Jammu from there.
Meanwhile Kargil is bracing for more protests and significantly all mainstream political leaders of Kargil have threatened of mass resignation from their respective parties if popular demand is not met.
Support for movement to restore Kargil-Skardu road link is also growing as authorities have failed to build an all weather road link to Kargil with outside world and demand for an airport has also met a cold shoulder so far.
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