Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 30: Former Chief Executive Councilor/ Chairman Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) (Leh), Rigzin Spalbar today resigned from the Indian National Congress and has decided to work without any political affiliation under the leadership of some senior leaders of Ladakh including former MPs on a common apolitical platform to struggle for granting Constitutional sagfeguards to Ladakh under 6th Schedule of Indian Constitution.
In a statement, issued here today, Spalbar said that only Constitutional safeguards would serve the real purpose of Ladakh after it was granted UT last year.
His resignation from the Congress is seen as a major setback to the party in Himalayan region.
In his statement Spalbar said “I would like to express appreciation and welcome the coming together of senior leaders from Leh, Ladakh under the leadership of Thiksey Rinpoche and ThupstanChhewang, both ex. MPs on a common a political platform to demand Constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under the 6th Schedule of Constitution by categorically stating that ‘only a Constitutional safeguards would achieve the real purpose of our becoming a UT”’.
He said “I am extremely happy, as I’ve been time and again since November 2019 writing and pleading to various members of civil society, socio-politico and religious leaders/organisations to jointly assume responsibility, on an apolitical basis to come together and collectively work towards ensuring safeguards for the region under the 6th Schedule. Constitutional Safeguards such as the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution allows not only for the region to maintain its distinctiveness as a Tribal area but also those values that are required to sustain Ladakh into the future. Moreover, the Sixth Schedule also provides the necessary framework through which legitimacy is given to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) to make laws to ensure the preservation and safeguard of its land, culture and economic aspects, especially relevant in a UT without Legislature”.
The statement also said “In view of above development and due to my strong commitment towards having the Constitutional Safeguard under the 6th Schedule applied to Ladakh, I reiterate my resolve to fully support their decisions and volunteer to strengthen the movement under their leadership. Hence, I do hereby resign from the Indian National Congress party to work without any political affiliation under their leadership to achieve the objective and cause of Ladakh taken in hand forthwith”.
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