Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said on 14 April, that the Leh Apex Body (LAB) will begin a five-day foot march to Skang Chu-Thang, close to the Himachal Pradesh border, on April 17. The purpose of the march is to meet shepherds who are allegedly losing their pasture land to huge industrial developments.
However, he said the marchers, numbering around 20, would move forward to Changthang near the China border only if there is no objection from the government.
The LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), is spearheading an agitation for the past four years to demand Statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Wangchuk expressed his annoyance over “some people in Delhi” dubbing them as “anti-nationals or Chinese and CIA agents” and said the only purpose of the march is to “take the pain of the people” of Ladakh to the government which needs to fulfil its promises.
The LAB had earlier called for the border (Pashmina) march on April 7 to highlight the plight of farmers who are allegedly losing prime pasture land to huge industrial plants to the south and “Chinese encroachments” to the north. However, the call for the march was withdrawn after authorities imposed prohibitory orders and curtailed the speed of the internet to 2G.
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