Civil society leaders have been requesting protection under the Sixth Schedule and statehood.
Table of Contents
What Sonam Wangchuk has said?
Sonam Wangchuk, a well-known climate activist, said on Friday to fast till death in subzero temperatures if the discussions between Ladakh’s civil society leaders and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) representatives on Saturday failed. He said that the government is unwilling to guarantee Ladakh’s constitutional protections because of the “influence of industrial lobby.”
Mr. Wangchuk, an education reformer whose work served as the inspiration for the Hindi film 3 Idiots, stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had previously won two elections on the basis of their party manifesto’s pledge to give the Sixth Schedule.
If the administration would not agree to talk about their requests, Mr. Wangchuk warned to start the fast in Leh.
“We want the entire country to remain with us in our fight for the truth. This is a serious threat to the future elections and the Indian people as a whole, Mr. Wangchuk stated, if manifestos are handled in this manner.
What are the Demands?
Ladakh Buddhist majority and Shia Muslim-dominated regions are represented by the LAB and KDA, respectively, and they are calling for statehood for Ladakh as well as its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which will grant it tribal status, a parliamentary seat for Kargil and Leh, and job reservations for locals.
India’s citizens should support Ladakh because it’s a legitimate cause and it’s about the reality of what these people have accomplished for the country—the truth of what we were promised and the truth of what they are currently sitting on the border between two hostile nations. “They expect some national support,” he added.
The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB) members are scheduled to meet with senior MHA officials on Saturday.
Meetings With Government:
There have been two rounds of talks thus far between the MHA and the civil society organisations, on December 4, 2023, and February 19.
“At the first meeting, they asked the leaders to put their demands in writing. When the topic of increasing the hill councils’ financial authority came up at the second meeting, the negotiations nearly collapsed. “We anticipate hearing from the government with a specific solution on Saturday,” he said.
He stated that Ladakh was now a Union Territory with no legislature and that the area was no longer protected by Article 370 of the Constitution.
“We requested a UT, but it was granted to the people with no authority. There is no public representation in the formulation or administration of policy because we have actually lost all of the MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly) that J&K formerly had. As a result, our democratic power has significantly decreased. He declared, “They should provide UT with Legislative Assembly or at least Statehood.”
August 5, 2019 saw the division of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh following the Center’s decision to revoke the State’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution. 2.74 lakh people call Ladakh home (2011 Census). Over the past four years, the UT has seen multiple outbreaks of protests due to worries about bureaucratic overreach and the preservation of local jobs, resources, and land.
The outcome of Saturday’s meeting between Ladakh’s leaders and Union home ministry representatives, including home secretary Ajay Bhalla, will determine the next steps for the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh apex body (LAB).
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Buddhist spiritual leader Thupstan Chhewang stated, “We have another round of talks with officials of the home ministry on Saturday, and Sunday’s meeting depends upon the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting.” With the representatives of the home ministry, the leaders would talk about three key topics.
What Leaders of Ladakh Crisis said?
“The officials will be met by a subcommittee of a high-powered committee of the Centre, consisting of three members each from KDA and LAB,” he continued.
The veteran leader stated that the Centre was initially interested in granting Ladakh the sixth schedule, but then reversed course.
“After that, we initiated a movement. He said, “Our MP had promised that the government would give Ladakh the sixth schedule.
Thupstan brought up the fact that the government abruptly changed its mind after a memorandum was submitted and a panel was established to meet with the prime minister.
“It is still not possible for the Center to reach a final agreement after numerous rounds of discussions. I am uncertain about the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting,” he remarked.
Three rounds of talks with the Union home minister had produced no clear resolution, he lamented.
The centre stated that the sixth schedule is limited to two or three northeastern states. If Ladakh were to receive it, it could be a Pandora’s box situation whereby other states with a large tribal population would begin to demand it.
The speaker stated that during negotiations, the demands of the LAB and KDA were limited to four items: statehood, a legislative assembly, protections under the sixth schedule, and the establishment of a public service commission.
Because there is a rider on delimitation until 2026, we abandoned our demand for two parliamentary constituencies in recent meetings. “To find a solution, some compromise is necessary,” he stated.
Also Read: Selena Gomez to Release First Song of 2024 “Love On”
