Ladakh's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rahul Sharma on Wednesday prohibited political protests, dharnas, demonstrations, sit-ins, hunger strikes and rallies within the municipal limits of Leh and Kargil for as long as the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) remains in force for the upcoming local elections.
Source: Indian White Paper — Ladakh CEO order
The order, issued under Section 282 of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000 read with the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Committee (Election) Rules, 2003, says such collective political activity during the code period has the potential to intimidate voters, disturb public order and vitiate the atmosphere for free and fair elections. The MCC came into force on October 23 with the election notification and will stay in force until the election process is complete. District Election Officers and police chiefs in Leh and Kargil have been directed to ensure strict compliance.
Source: The Legitimate News — protest ban order
The ban came a day after the Leh Apex Body (LAB), one of the two Ladakhi organisations in talks with the Centre over the region's demands, announced it would resume protests in Leh from Thursday, November 12, including dharnas at NDS Memorial Park, against the decision to hold the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections in peak winter.
Source: Indian Witness — LAB winter demonstrations
'An SOS call from Ladakh'
Responding to the ban, Leh Apex Body member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, 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, appealed to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and defer the polls. "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.
Source: Jammu News Portal — leaders' SOS appeal
Wangchuk said the administration was forcing elections on people during harsh winter, when temperatures in some parts of Ladakh fall below minus 30 degrees Celsius. "Ladakh is known as the world's coldest inhabited place. The weather forecast for December 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.
Source: Jammu News Portal — leaders' SOS appeal
Under the current schedule, elections to the Municipal Committees of Leh and Kargil are due on November 21, while all eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils go to polls on December 4, with the election process expected to conclude by December 8. A complete shutdown was observed across Ladakh on November 10 against the winter poll schedule, with shops shut, schools closed and public transport off the roads.
Source: Indian Witness — LAB winter demonstrations
What happens next turns on whether the Leh Apex Body goes ahead with its announced dharnas from Thursday despite the prohibition, and whether the Centre responds to the leaders' appeal for a deferment. The CEO's order warns that violations will be dealt with under the relevant provisions of law and the Model Code of Conduct.