Erstwhile J&K state better than Union regime now: Ladakhi leaders

Srinagar: Leaders from Ladakh, who chose not to take part in a high-powered meeting organised by the Union government, opined that it was better in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir than the Union Territory regime, NDTV reported.

Serving quite a setback to the Union government, the protesting Ladakhi leadership refused to attend the meeting organised by a committee formed by the Centre. The committee, headed by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, was formed with the intention of containing the resentment in the region.

In a unanimous decision, the Apex Body of Ladakh and Kargil Democratic Alliance resolved not to take part in any proceedings of the committee unless their demands, such as statehood to Ladakh and special status under the 6th schedule of the Constitution, are made to the committee meeting's agenda.

The committee members include the Lt Governor of Ladakh, MP Ladakh, a senior home ministry official and nine representatives of the Apex Body of Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance.

Leader of the Apex Body of Leh, Chering Dorjay, said that the Centre was fooling the Ladakhi people, forming the committee but refusing to meet their demands.

The demand for statehood and special status under the 6th schedule was running in the UT for more than a year.

The Centre introduced the bifurcation of Ladakh as a separate Union territory, claiming a historic move and promising development and an end to discrimination towards the people there. But people in Leh and Kargil felt being politically dispossessed, and they jointly rose against the Union government.

Dorjay, also a former BJP member, said that the committee's agenda to protect the jobs, land and identity of the Ladakhi people has no credibility. He said that it was because the agenda does not make it clear under what provision of the Constitution these rights of the people there are protected. However, all these could be protected under the 6th schedule of the Constitution, he said.

Though the people of Leh demanded a Union Territory, it has not worked well for the people there, Durjoy said.