Ladakh ‘optimistic’ after HPC formation for protection of land, jobs for locals
A day after the Government of India constituted a High-Powered Committee (HPC), headed by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, to “ensure protection of land and employment” for the people of Union Territory of Ladakh, Ladakhis are largely ecstatic and quite optimistic about the early fulfillment of their core demands.
Welcoming the Centre’s decision, they are hopeful that the wishes and aspirations (with regard to four-point agenda) of Ladakhi people would be fulfilled soon.
Some members of newly-formed HPC, however, have reportedly expressed reservations over the MHA order having no mention of their two major demands, comprising implementation of Sixth Schedule and grant of Statehood status to Ladakh.
“We express gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for constituting the High Powered Committee to review issues of Ladakh. We also thank Lieutenant Governor Ladakh R K Mathua and MP JamyangTsering Namgyal for their tireless efforts,” TashiGyalson, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Leh Council said.
“We have full hope and trust in the union government led by the Prime Minister that the wishes and aspirations of Ladakhis will and can only be fulfilled in his regime,” he said.
On Monday, the Centre constituted a 17-member Committee, comprising MP Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Ladakh, CECs of Leh and Kargil, representatives from Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) as its members, to discuss measures to protect Ladakh’s unique culture, language and employment. There is no mention of granting full-fledged status of Statehood to Ladakh in
Former CEC of Leh Council, Rigzin Spalbar said, “Constitution of this Committee by Government of India to resolve Ladakh’s demand for Constitutional safeguard to its land, job, culture, language and environment is very welcome. Formation of this important Committee, with the onset of New Year by the Central Government, augurs well and shows its sincere intent to redress the important issue of Constitutional Safeguard for Ladakh. I extend my sincere best wishes to the Ladakh team/leaders to be successful and come out with flying colours”.
Pertinently, civil society and political groups in Ladakh have been demanding inclusion under the sixth schedule of the Constitution to protect land, employment and cultural identity of Ladakh after the Government of India abrogated J&K’s special status and bifurcated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two UTs—J&K and Ladakh—in August 2019.
Two Hill Development Councils (Leh and Kargil) have already passed unanimous, though separately, resolutions on four-point agenda on major demands, including full-fledged statehood for Ladakh, implementation of sixth schedule, separate Lok Sabha seats for Kargil and Leh, and establishment of ‘Ladakh Public Service Commission’ with the Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) as a mandatory requirement for all Gazetted Posts in Ladakh.
KonchokStanzin, Councillor Chushul and former Executive Councillor Leh Council said, “The constitution of the 17 member committee is a welcome step. The political leaders of Leh and Kargil have been asking for it for almost the past four years. There are some specific issues like protection of land and jobs for Ladakhi people and they should be the priority of the committee”. KunzangDorjey, a researcher, said, “We highly appreciate the Modi Sarkar for listening to the grievances of Ladakhis. Ladakh needs Constitutional Safeguard in any form but not statehood to maintain the communal harmony in Ladakh.”
