Ladakhis’ U-turn from UT status to statehood brings a rare Leh-Kargil unity

Ladakh leadership’s U-turn from its longstanding demand of the Union Territory status to full-fledged statehood to Ladakh has formed the basis for two ideologically-different and communally-sensitive districts–Kargil and Leh–to iron out differences and display a rare unity for “restoration of democracy” in the region.

Going by the versions of leaders belonging to Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)–two frontline groups spearheading struggle for all major demands of Ladakhi people, the biggest example of bringing an end to their differences was the recent amicable resolution of construction of a Gonpa in Kargil town, which was bone of contention between two districts for the last more than six decades.

“There had been several disputes between Leh and Kargil people, some on communal lines, for several decades and the people of two districts always took different stands on a particular subject but the developments (after the abrogation of Article 370) forced the right-thinking and constructive people to end their differences and fight unitedly to save Ladakh from bureaucratic rule,” Qamar Ali Akhoon, former minister and KDA’s member told.

Akhoon said Kargil people never supported the demand for UT status to Ladakh. “It was Leh people who had been demanding UT status for Ladakh but they have now realized that they have got UT status having nothing for Ladakhi people. With the presence of some right-thinking people in LAB and KDA, two districts have been successful in cementing rare unity for a common cause of full-fledged statehood for Ladakh. Nothing short of this is acceptable to us”.

The KDA leader said the biggest example of this unity was amicable resolution of decades-long dispute over construction of Gonpa in Kargil town. “The simple UT with legislature is not acceptable to us as it would continue to keep our political leadership to work under Lieutenant Governor’s administration. We want full restoration of democracy in the region to end the scope of any contention with the Centre or bureaucracy”.

Talking to The News Now, Chering Dorjay Lakruk, leader of LAB and senior vice-president of Ladakh Buddhist Association believed that the unity of Leh and Kargil districts would go a long way in fulfilling all major demands of Ladakh.

“I am hopeful that this unity would remain and help the people of Ladakh to achieve all their major demands. There were differences between two districts which we have been able to sort out for a larger goal of full-fledged statehood to Ladakh. The resolution of longstanding dispute over the construction of Gonpa in Kargil town was achieved amicably,” he LAB leader said.

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a 17-member high powered committee, headed by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, to ensure the protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh. It was also mandated to discuss measures to protect the region’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and its strategic importance.

The KDA and LAB, however, decided to stay away from the committee on ground that its agenda did not contain their four major demands including full-fledged statehood for Ladakh, constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, recruitment and job reservation for the youth of the Union Territory of Ladakh and separate Public Service Commission for the UT and creation of two separate Lok Sabha constituencies for Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh.

The BJP, which rules Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, has stayed away from the agitational programme in Ladakh. The BJP has distanced itself from the LAB as well as KDA on the ground that the grant of Union Territory was a major demand of Ladakhis, which was accepted by the Central Government on August 5, 2019.