Three Years After Article 370 Abrogation, Ladakh Erupts Against Centre; Demand Statehood

Ishfaq-ul-Hassan

SRINAGAR—Ladakh is up in arms against the central government demanding statehood and other constitutional guarantees.

Braving the bone-chilling cold, hundreds of people staged a protest in Leh on Wednesday. Protests peacefully marched through Leh town demanding full statehood and guarantees under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

“We seek our rights. We are not begging,” the protesters said amid heavy sloganeering.

Protests were held under the banner of Leh Apex Body. Last year, leaders of two districts formed Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), to unitedly fight for statehood.

On August 5, 2019, the central government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and downgraded the state into two union territories. Ladakh became a union territory without a legislative assembly, while Jammu and Kashmir became a UT with the legislature.

Ladakh Buddhist Association, which had supported the decision, is now part of the political alliance demanding statehood and constitutional guarantees.  However, the Muslim majority Kargil had opposed the move and desired to stay with Jammu and Kashmir.

Three years on, the centre’s gamble has exploded on its face with both Buddhists and Muslims of Ladakh joining hands to demand statehood and special status.

“We will intensify protests across Ladakh. Our agitation will continue till the Government of India accepts our demands,” said KDA co-chairman Asgar Karbalaie.

In August 2020, Leh was up in arms demanding an extension of the sixth schedule of the constitution to the cold desert. The sixth schedule guarantees land and job rights to the locals of the tribal areas. This schedule is already being implemented in many northeastern states including Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram.

The political stalemate ended when BJP and Congress leaders met the union home minister and decided to contest all 26 seats of the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). PDP and National Conference boycotted the polls.

Earlier, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah visited Kargil and supported the statehood of Ladakh.