2 main leaders of Ladakh rights body quit days before key meeting over statehood with Centre

Two important members of the Ladakh subcommittee, comprising members from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), have resigned just before the impending meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at the end of this month.

 

The subcommittee was getting ready for talks with the High Powered Committee (HPC) of the MHA to discuss their remaining demands, especially statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. These talks are important for Ladakh, which became a Union Territory in 2019 after being bifurcated from Jammu and Kashmir. This happened after the removal of Article 370 and the passing of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.

 

After the change, the LAB and KDA — representing different political, social, and religious groups from Leh and Kargil — came together to fight for special safeguards. Their goal is to protect Ladakh’s identity, culture, land, and jobs.

 

While the government has already agreed to some demands, such as reserving 85 per cent of jobs for locals and recognising several official languages, the main demands of statehood and the Sixth Schedule are still pending.

 

The resignations are seen as a setback for the subcommittee as the two leaders are considered important, but the LAB and KDA are expected to continue working together and push forward in their efforts to protect the rights of the people of Ladakh.

 

While the Centre has been flexible on most of the demands of the Ladakh leaders, it has rejected the demand for statehood, while showing willingness to implement provisions of the Sixth Schedule applicable to Ladakh.

 

The Ladakh leaders have signalled that they would be willing to concede on the demand of the Sixth Schedule and statehood if Ladakh gets an assembly. 

 

Ladakh Hill Councils granted to Leh and Kargil, have become powerless after the region was conferred a union territory status. However, an assembly for Ladakh will address the demand for local governance, giving the people of the region a sense of control over matters concerning Ladakh.   

India