Nishikant Khajuria
At a time when political analysts are predicting comfortable victory for Bhartiya Janta Party candidates in Jammu-Reasi and Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituencies besides possibilities of lotus blooming for the first time in hugely Muslim majority Rajouri-Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, uncertainty looms large over the party prospects on Ladakh Lok Sabha seat , which is being represented by BJP for the last two consecutive terms.
More ironic is the fact that the BJP is facing resentment in Ladakh despite fulfillment of long cherished demand of the Ladakh people, particularly of Leh for the Union Territory status with the formal re-organization of erstwhile Jammu Kashmir State on first of November 2019.
Just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir, Leh observed a complete shutdown followed by a rally and fast launched by educationist and social reformer Sonam Wangchuk as talks with Union Home Ministry by Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance did not make any headway. These two organizations are demanding, statehood to Ladakh, implementation of 6th Schedule, separate Public Service Commission and one more Parliamentary seat for Ladakh.
However, the bone of contention is the first two demands as the BJP-led Central Government, particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah is purportedly against granting statehood and 6th Schedule to Ladakh, which may pose threat to the region bordering hostile China and Pakistan.
Following re-organization of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, Union Territory Ladakh was born and with this, a long cherished demand of the people there got fulfilled. These people had been demanding Union Territory status for Ladakh since late eighties and this was the reason that then Narsimha Rao Government had accorded Ladakh Hill Development Council Leh to pacify the people. Late Mufti Mohd Sayeed led PDP -Congress coalition Government formed a separate Council for Kargil also even as Kargilites had never demanded the same.
With the re-organization of J&K, Ladakh was designated as a separate Union Territory without Legislative Assembly. BJP -led Central Government thought that they had fulfilled the long cherished demand of the Leh people, who had also celebrated the same. People still remember the highly impressive speech of young Jimyang Tsering Namgyal, MP Ladakh, in the Lok Sabha eulogizing the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, re-organization of J&K State and creation of L:adakh UT.
However, within an year after creation of Ladakh UT, people of the region started demanding statehood and implementation of 6th Schedule for the region as they started realizing that their representation in the Government had reduced to almost zero. Though there are two Hill Development Councils for Leh and Kargil, their powers and jurisdictions are limited. There has been huge budget allocation for Ladakh UT, but the power to utilize 90 percent of the same rests with the Lt Governor, who is a non-local.
As part of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, Ladakh region had four MLAs in the Legislative Assembly and two MLC in the Legislative Council. Besides, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh and Kargil also enjoyed significant autonomy, which was reduced under UT.
Earlier, Article 370 and Article 35A were safeguards for jobs, land and identity, which are no more there thus posing a threat to local identity. People of Ladakh fear that enhanced economic activities and industries are likely to lead to demographic change with the influx of outsiders, which is feared to pose threat to fragile ecosystem of Ladakh.
These circumstances forced people of Leh to join hands with Kargilites, who were already annoyed over UT status to Ladakh and had vociferously opposed the same from the day one. Thereafter, under the banner of Kargil Democratic Alliance and Leh Apex Body, people of the UT started demanding statehood and 6th Schedule, which provides legal safeguards to protect Ladakh’s unique cultural heritage and traditional customs.
Pertinent to mention that the 6th Schedule under Article 244 of the Indian Constitution contains special provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the four North-Eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. It provides for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions and Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) that have some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state. The district and regional councils administer the areas under their jurisdiction. They can make laws on certain specified matters like land, forests, canal water, shifting cultivation, village administration, inheritance of property, social customs etc. They can constitute courts for trial of suits and cases between the tribes.
However, on the other hand, BJP -led Central Government firmly believes that statehood as well as 6th Schedule are not good for the region like Ladakh, which has sensitive borders with hostile China and Pakistan. Addressing the China-Pakistan axis necessitates strategic infrastructure development in the region, particularly in border areas and statehood as well as 6th Schedule to Ladakh may hinder the same because of restrictions on land use and resource exploitation.
Ladakh directly governed by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Central Government facilitates effective coordination between the military and local administration in responding to Chinese threat. Further, being a Union Territory allows for focused investment in infrastructure development in Ladakh, including roads, airstrips and communication networks in the region due to clear chain of command. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is learnt to have clearly conveyed that demands of statehood and 6th Schedule for Ladakh are not feasible.
Following deadlock between the Union Home Ministry team and representatives of Kargil Democratic Alliance and Leh Apex Body, a complete shutdown was observed in Leh a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir on March 7 while noted environmentalist and innovator Sonum Wangchuk also began a hunger strike.
These developments and purported simmering resentment among Ladakh people over their demands may spoil BJP prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls for Ladakh Parliamentary seat, which is being represented by the party for the last two consecutive terms since 2014.
Even as loss of a Lok Sabha seat may not be cause of worry for the ruling BJP, which is being predicted returning to power for the third consecutive term, unrest among people the region bordering hostile China and Pakistan is of course a matter of serious concern for the national security.
In such a situation, New Delhi must continue meaningful dialogue with the representatives of agitating bodies and civil society to understand their concerns and demands for evolving a way out in a phased manner keeping all aspects in harmony and without compromising with the necessary measures for the border security preparedness.
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