UNEASE IN JAMMU, LADAKH

Over the last year, Jammu and Ladakh have exhibited visible signs of disaffection with the fallout of the repeal of the ‘special status’ and the guarantees. A looming prospect of demographic change, loss of jobs and land rights have made people uneasy, writes Riyaz Wani

- Riyaz Wani

On the second anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 on August 5, there was no celebration in Ladakh. Rather, political parties of the two districts - Leh and Kargil, which earlier held divergent views about the repeal of Article 370 came together to demand statehood.

The leaders from both districts addressed a joint press conference. Earlier, the Apex Committee of Peoples Movement of Ladakh led by its chairperson Thupstan Chhewang and the Kargil Democratic Alliance Co-Chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai held a meeting to forge a political consensus.

“We need protection for land and jobs under Article 371 or under the sixth schedule of the Constitution,” Karbalai said. He demanded two parliamentary seats for the region. “We will negotiate with the Union Government around these very issues and demands.”

ARTICLE 371

Unlike in Leh, people in Kargil had opposed the revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Now while Kargil continues to seek restoration of Jammu and Kashmir autonomy and undoing of the former state’s bifurcation, it has joined forces with Leh to demand statehood and the special status under Article 371 for Ladakh.

The reason for this is that as a union territory, Ladakhis stare at a perpetual bureaucratic rule under a New Delhi appointed Lieutenant Governor. The Ladakh and Kargil Hill Development Councils which wielded significant power in the undivided semi-autonomous Jammu and Kashmir have become nonentities.