KARGIL, Aug 9 (KNS) : A three-day hunger strike began in Kargil on Saturday morning in support of four key demands — statehood for Ladakh, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and establishment of a public service commission.

The protest, organised jointly by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB), is being held at Hussani Park. The two groups have been leading the agitation for the past five years and have held several rounds of talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ high-powered committee (HPC).

Banners at the venue read, “Together, we can build a future where Ladakh governs Ladakh.” Protesters carried placards with slogans such as “End colonial treatment, restore democracy” and “Statehood – Sixth Schedule and strong Ladakh.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel”

KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai said the strike was part of their ongoing movement. “Our most basic demand is statehood and the Sixth Schedule. Despite repeated assurances, there has been no concrete discussion on these issues. The government is deliberately delaying talks,” he alleged.

Karbalai recalled that in May, the HPC chairman, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, and the home secretary had promised discussions would start the following month. “Nothing has happened so far, forcing us to launch this strike,” he said.

Another KDA leader, Sajjad Kargili, accused the government of failing to honour its promise. “We are protesting peacefully and democratically. This colonial treatment must end, and democracy should be restored in Ladakh,” he said.(KNS)