Residents seek district tag for Drass

Srinagar, January 13

Amid speculations that the Union Government is considering granting district status to some areas in the Union Territory of Ladakh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a peaceful protest march was held in Drass on Friday afternoon. Hundreds of people from all age groups participated in the protest.

The protesters demanded district status for Drass and carried banners bearing messages “we want district”, “district for Drass,” and “district hamara haq (district is our right).”

On Friday afternoon, people from different villages joined the rally, which began from Lal Chowk, Drass, and proceeded towards Court Road near the sub-district magistrate’s (SDM) office in Drass. The protesters presented a memorandum to the in-charge SDM regarding the district status.

“People gathered in Drass despite the chilling cold, demanding separate district status. We strongly support the people of Drass and Suru-Karchey in their quest for district status,” said local leader Sajjad Kargili, who contested as a Parliamentary candidate from Ladakh in 2019. He said given the population and expanse of Drass, it deserved district status long ago. He added that all political groups participated in the peaceful march indicates the collective resolve of the people towards this demand.

“I strongly advocate for the genuine and persistent demand of the people to grant district status to Sankoo and Drass,” says Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil.

On January 10, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig (retd) BD Mishra met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi amidst speculations of another round of dialogue between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and two political groups of Ladakh — Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The meeting has set buzz in Ladakh region that the Centre is likely to grant district status to certain regions in Ladakh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.