SRINAGAR: As Ladakh’s administration Wednesday imposed a complete ban on protests and demonstrations within the municipal limits of Leh and Kargil, citing the municipal and hill council polls scheduled for Nov 23 and Dec 4, respectively, Ladakhi leaders, including Leh Apex Body (LAB) member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, appealed to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to intervene to defer the polls, citing harsh winter conditions and the likely exclusion of a large section of the electorate.“It is an SOS call from Ladakh to the President, the Prime Minister and the Union home minister. We are sending this message to the people of India also,” the joint appeal said.Earlier in the day, the office of the chief electoral officer issued an order stating that the model code of conduct has been enforced and will remain in force till the completion of the election process. The order said organising of political dharnas, protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies or similar collective activities within the municipal limits of Leh and Kargil during the currency of the model code of conduct has the potential to intimidate voters, disturb public order, and vitiate the atmosphere for free and fair elections.Flanked by Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairmen Asgar Ali Karbali and Sajjad Kargili, Wangchuk said the administration was forcing elections on people during the harsh winter, when temperatures in some parts of Ladakh fall below minus 30°C. “Ladakh is known as the world’s coldest inhabited place. The weather forecast for Dec indicates snowfall. How will elections be conducted in such conditions? Half of the population is outside Ladakh, while students are already studying in different cities. When Leh, Kargil and other areas are nearly empty, why are you holding elections?” he asked.
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“Indian democracy has a great tradition in Ladakh. Earlier, even two voters in Demchok were facilitated through helicopters to ensure their participation. So why is the administration ignoring half of the population now,” Wangchuk said. He appealed to the country’s leadership, including the opposition and people across India, to pay attention to Ladakh and oppose what he termed an arbitrary decision by the lieutenant-governor’s administration. Haneefa said he had met the Ladakh L-G and told him holding elections during winter would deprive a large number of people of their right to vote. He said despite it they issued the poll notification.Lakrook said holding elections during peak winter was unheard of in Ladakh. He said May or June would be more suitable time ensure maximum voter participation. Karbali accused the L-G of imposing its decisions on Ladakh’s people. He said the region has traditionally recorded around 90% voter turnout but the administration was scheduling elections at a time when nearly 30% of the population would be outside the Union Territory.Kargili alleged that the administration was making every effort to defame LAB and KDA and that holding elections in Dec was an infringement of people’s voting rights and a denial of adequate political representation.