Kargil demands opening up of Skardu-Kargil road

Srinagar, Feb 1: Kargil district of Ladakh Division witnessed a massive protest in support of opening up of Skardu-Kargil road.

Tens of thousands of people assembled in Kargil town to participate in the protest that was called by Anjuman Jamiyat Ullama Isna Ashriya Kargil (AJUIAK), who had appealed the people to support the movement for opening of Kargil Skardu road after the Friday prayers.

Eyewitnesses told that people from different shades of society emerged in Kargil town to press for the demand of opening up of Shardu-Kargil road.

The protest was led by the President AJUIAK, Shiekh Nazir Mehdi Mohammadi and other religious scholars.

Pertinently, Kargil and Skardu are on either side of Line of Control and is separated by only 120 kms. To meet his or her kin, a Kargil resident has to cover nearly 2500 kms to reach Skardu via New Delhi.“We are facing lot of incontinence due to closure of this strategic route. It is totally injustice towards us. Why New Delhi is forcing us a route that costs us both money and time. It is our demand that this Shardu-Kargil road should be opened without any delay,” the protesters said.

The protesters raised slogans against the injustices with the people and threatened to launch an agitation in case Government of India doesn’t take any measure.

Sheikh Na’zir Mehdi Mohammadi, while interacting with the protestor told that there is some 12 to 15,000 divided family in Ladakh and the miseries of these families should be considered. He requested government of India to open Kargil-Skardu Road and Turtuk Khapulo Road on humanitarian basis.

Mehdi referring to the resolution of the Parliament of India passed in 1994, told that if India considers Gilgit Baltistan as its integral part then they should also consider the plight of the people of GB and Ladakh

Mirwaiz, Omar, Mehbooba extend support

Srinagar, Feb 1: For once the two mainstream rivals, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah on Friday found common cause with senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq demanding the opening of the Kargil-Skardu route.
Scores of people in Kargil town of Ladakh region today took out a march called by the ‘Open Kargil-Skardu movement’ demanding opening of the route between Kargil town and Skardu, which is in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Supporting the demand of Kargil residents, former state chief minister and vice president of regional National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah said on his twitter page: “(The party) supports this genuine demand of the people of the area & hopes that @PMOIndia will announce this important CBM when he next visits J&K”.
Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also supported the demand. Posting on her twitter handle, she said: “PDP envisaged through #SelfRule not only opening of #Kargil-Skardu, but other routes too, to let people explore & increase contacts across borders. Such initiatives will not only open up jk to the world around us, but also serve the cause of peace beyond boundaries”.
Senior separatist leader, Miwaiz Umer Farooq had earlier supported the demand. He said on his twitter handle: “Support People’s march in #Kargil demanding reopening of old Kargil-Skardu route which is just 120 km apart! All natural routes of divided state of J&K should be opened and people allowed to connect to their loved ones, have access to essentials in harsh weather conditions and be able to visit their places of worship and do commerce”.