‘If the central government does not give rights to the people of Ladakh, it will not be good for our country

Ladakh remained closed on Saturday, February 3, 2024, as thousands of people took to the streets demanding implementation of constitutional safeguards and the 6th Schedule (external link) in the state.

There has been a simmering situation in Ladakh for a long time and just before the general elections in the country, Ladakhis are in no mood to give up their demands from the central government.

Due to the Central Government’s silence on the demand for the Sixth Schedule, Ladakhis are planning to intensify their protest.

Why have the people of Ladakh come out in protest?

There are two districts in Ladakh, hence there is a demand for statehood for Ladakh and the people of Ladakh want that the 6th Schedule of the Constitution (which protects the rights of the tribal population) should be implemented in Ladakh.

So the protest is only for these two demands?

No, Ladakh became a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, after which Ladakh does not have any Public Service Commission. Want separate state employment and a separate cadre (like other states) for Ladakh. There has been no local recruitment in the Public Service Commission for more than four years and this is especially true for higher posts in the government service. Also want three parliamentary constituencies in the Ladakh region: Ladakh, Leh and Kargil. These are four demands which are being made for Ladakh.

Jamyang Tsering Namgyal is BJP MP from Ladakh. Is he not intervening to help?

We had supported him in the past because it was in his election manifesto that Ladakh would be given Sixth Schedule status. You wait and see what will happen in the next general elections if our demands are not met.

How will the life of an ordinary citizen of Ladakh be different after the implementation of Sixth Schedule status?

When Ladakh was a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, we were being discriminated against (in policies) and hence we wanted to separate from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This happened after the abrogation of Article 370, but when we look back, we got some benefits by being a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

For example, our land in Ladakh was safe because of Section 370 and 35A. Due to these two constitutional provisions, outsiders could not come to Ladakh and buy land. Employment was secure in Ladakh district because no outsider could come and snatch our jobs.

Ever since they abrogated Article 370, we have no such security. Therefore, we need the 6th Schedule of the Constitution to protect Ladakh from all these external influences.

Furthermore, the 6th Schedule is provided in our Constitution for the protection of the tribal population. In the northeastern states where there is the Sixth Schedule, there is less than 50 percent tribal population.

We have 97 percent tribal population in Ladakh, but still we are not getting the benefits of the Sixth Schedule.

Ladakh is eligible for the Sixth Schedule and that is our main point. We have a vast area of ​​60,000 square kilometers. We are eligible for the Sixth Schedule on all criteria and our demand should be met.

When Article 370 was removed, the people of Ladakh were very happy and were praising the Modi government. Why are they unhappy now?

Yes, we were happy after the removal of Article 370 because the demand for a Union Territory was old. But one has to remember, we had demanded a Union Territory with an Assembly. We got a union territory without an assembly.

In 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated, there was excitement because we felt that our demand for a Union Territory had been accepted, but we never realized what were the loopholes in the deal. We were dancing on the streets then, but after a few months we realized that Ladakh got nothing after the abrogation of Article 370.

Nothing was in our hands or under our control. All decisions for Ladakh are being taken by bureaucrats. We have two elected councils, but they have no power.

Ladakh has no legislative powers and both these councils come under the Union Territory. That is why the people of Ladakh are sad.