The recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the BJP's action on Article 370 has spurred intensified discussions among Ladakh's representatives to address their demands with the Centre equally keen to resolve the matter before Lok Sabha polls 2024.
Ladakh, which was part of the erstwhile northernmost state, was designated a Union Territory alongside Jammu and Kashmir under the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 on August 5, 2019.
While the decision to declare Ladakh a Union Territory was hailed in the Buddhist-majority Leh district, it faced rejection in the Muslim-majority Kargil.
The sentiment in Leh shifted when it became evident that along with Article 370, crucial protections for land ownership, jobs and identity were also rescinded. That prompted the Leh Apex Body (LAB), a coalition representing various political, social, and religious entities in Leh, to reach out to the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
Together, they aimed to jointly advocate for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. The LAB proposed a demand for a Sixth Schedule status for the region, while the KDA pressed for statehood.
The Centre established a high-powered committee under Minister of State for Home Ministry Nityanand Rai to engage with Ladakh's leadership.
While expressing willingness to address concerns regarding land, jobs, and identity, the Centre declined to accept the demand for Sixth Schedule status or statehood.
Following the Supreme Court's validation of Ladakh's status as a Union Territory and its call for the swift restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, sources indicate that Ladakh's leadership is contemplating substituting the statehood demand with a legislature for the Union Territory.
This shift is influenced by the absence of a clear timeline for Jammu and Kashmir's statehood restoration. Despite setting a deadline for Assembly elections in J&K by September 30, 2024, the Supreme Court did not specify a timeline for statehood restoration.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has encouraged the LAB and KDA to collaborate on a comprehensive document outlining their demands.
The document, encompassing various options, is slated for presentation at an upcoming meeting in New Delhi following the current Winter Session of Parliament.
Both the LAB and KDA are actively crafting this document and have made significant strides on key points. Ladakh's representatives are increasingly inclined to advocate for a legislature within the Union Territory while striving for eventual statehood.
However, the LAB and KDA remain resolute in their demand for the Sixth Schedule to safeguard the region’s land, culture, identity and other rights. In a meeting on December 4, Rai urged Ladakh's representatives to explore alternatives to their demands.
Senior officials from the MHA, including Rai and Home Secretary A.K. Bhalla, are scheduled to visit Leh and Kargil soon for a meeting to engage with leadership there.
The MHA is not averse to the demand for two Lok Sabha seats for the region, one each in Kargil and Leh, in addition to addressing demands for jobs and development.
The consideration for two Parliamentary seats will occur post-2026 when the freeze on the delimitation of constituencies ends. The Centre aims to resolve Ladakh's issues before the Lok Sabha polls in 2024.
