| Leh, Kargil Hill Councils empowered to protect land, cultural identity: Raman Suri | | |  Early times Report
JAMMU, Dec 13: Tourism Federation and Jammu-Kashmir & Ladakh Tourism Stakeholders Association met today under the chairmanship of Raman Suri, General Secretary, wherein the members expressed their concern regarding an unjustified issue being raised by the Congress, that is unjust demand of declaring the newly-carved out Union Territory of Ladakh a tribal area under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with the administration of tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Accusing Congress of creating insecurity amongst masses, especially the people of Ladakh, to whom it denied Union Territory (UT) status since independence, Raman Suri said that the abrogation of Article 370 and creation of the UT of Ladakh was welcomed with open hands by the people of Ladakh, however some people of Ladakh were brainwashed by the Congress to ask the Centre to declare the region a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This demand, he added, was driven by the fear created in their minds, by cunning and power-lusty Congress, that the influx of outsiders would lead to a change in the region's demography, jeopardizing their culture, identity and lands. In the meeting, all members were of the view that if the said demand is agreed, then it would lead to downfall of tourism in Ladakh and ultimately, the economy and growth prospects of the region too. |
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