CELEBRATIONS erupted at the main market in Leh on August 5, 2019, soon after the BJP government in Parliament announced the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into Union Territories—J&K and Ladakh. While Kashmir reeled under a curfew-like situation, the atmosphere in Leh was different. Residents gathered at the main chowk in Leh to commemorate the event. At the time, the Ladakh Buddhist Association thanked the BJP government for turning Ladakh into a Union Territory and fulfilling the long-standing aspirations of the people.
However, on December 11, when the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict on the bunch of petitions challenging the scrapping of Article 370, upholding the abrogation and granting Ladakh the status of a Union Territory, there were no such celebrations in Leh.
Thupstan Chhewang, a former MP and now the president of the Leh Apex Body, also called the People’s Movement for 6th Schedule for Ladakh, however, hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict. He described the verdict “as a strong step in the direction of strengthening national integration”, but at the same time, he called for granting statehood to Ladakh. The Leh Apex Body, which is an amalgam of various religious and political organisations of Leh district, including the Ladakh Buddhist Association, welcomed the Supreme Court’s observations about the early restoration of J&K’s statehood and holding polls in J&K before September 2024.
This story is from the January 01, 2024 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 01, 2024 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
My Secular Mentor
A rare psychologist of Indian culture, Sudhir Kakar leaves behind seminal works that will have relevance for many generations
Battle of the Bahubalis
Gangsters in Bihar no longer enjoy the kind of dominance that they did in the 90s, but that has not kept them away from politics
Memories of Riots
Have frequent communal tensions changed the social fabric of Bihar?
Didi's Achilles Heel
Mamata Banerjee stays the course but her party, plagued by corruption charges, spins out of control
Memory Metamorphosis
What happened on March 14, 2007 in Nandigram? People still ask this question as they take part in the dance of democracy
Minority Report
He has not lost the Dhubri seat in Assam since 2009. Now he is fighting for political survival as Bengali Muslims look to favour the Congress
THE POWER OF PURPOSE
Doing good is good business as it transcends bottom lines and impacts lives positively, yielding profits that go beyond numbers.
CURRENT FARMING METHODS ARE EXACERBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) project is supporting transition of 850,000 farmers covering 377,801 hectares of land and operating in 3730 villages. \"Natural farming is in harmony with nature. It is a holistic land management practice that leverages the power of photosynthesis in plants\", says Mr. T Vijay Kumar, a retired IAS officer, who is the Executive Vice Chairman of Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a non-profit organization set up by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2014. Since 2016, this platform has been utilized to integrate and promote APCNF activities, aimed at fostering the overall development and empowerment of farmers. Excerpts from an interview with Mr T Vijay Kumar:
IN PURSUIT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Harshavardhana Gourineni, Executive Director, Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd, in an interview shares how through its products and operations the company is helping reduce carbon footprints and meet SDGs. Excerpts:
COOLING NO MORE A LUXURY, BUT A NECESSITY
With the rise in demand of air conditioners due to heat stress, sustainable air conditioning is the way forward to bring relief to people as well as manage emissions