SRINAGAR, Jan 23: The Apex Body of Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, a coalition of political and religious parties, have jointly appealed to the Union Government for the grant of full statehood to Ladakh. This demand was formalized through a comprehensive draft submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) following a meeting on December 4, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. The MHA had requested both groups to submit a detailed set of demands.
The submitted draft highlights Ladakh’s rich history, strategic significance, environmental importance, and similarities with other states in the North East as compelling reasons for granting statehood. It emphasizes that this move would not only enhance political representation but also empower locals to express their aspirations within the democratic framework, fostering a sense of belonging and participation in the nation-building process.
Ladakh attained the status of a union territory in 2019, following the abrogation of J&K’s special status and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories. Over the past two years, the Apex Body of Ladakh has advocated for constitutional protections for the region’s people and environment.
Among the other demands submitted to the MHA is the inclusion of safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Recognizing Ladakh as a tribal-majority area with a fragile environment, the draft proposes bringing Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to ensure special protections for the land rights of Scheduled Tribes in Ladakh, preserving community identity, history, and culture, and allowing for the creation of laws tailored to the region’s unique requirements.
Additional demands include two Lok Sabha seats for the union territory, employment opportunities for youth, the formation of a Ladakh Public Service Commission to provide equal opportunities for gazetted posts to Ladakh students, and the establishment of robust institutions for the protection of non-gazetted jobs. The draft also proposes two Lok Sabha Members of Parliament and one Rajya Sabha representative for Ladakh.
The Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance express optimism for future meetings, anticipating an early fulfillment of the genuine demands of the people of Ladakh. They view this collaborative effort as a crucial step toward addressing the political, cultural, and administrative needs of the region within a democratic framework.
