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| Ladakh talks tough, protests interference in LAHDC, threatens to part ways | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Mar 4: Accusing State Government of taking them for granted, Ladakhis have begun clamoring about separation from the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Voices have begun getting shriller with duly elected legislative council members raising their concerns forcefully about the utter neglect of their Leh-Ladakh region. They would often talk about discrimination being meted out to their region in private but breaking the custom of speaking behind closed doors, Congress MLC Narboo Gialchan today spoke his heart out in the State Legislative Council during the discussion on Governor's address.
Gialchan did not mince words while saying that a lot has been heard about the need for keeping Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions in unison but when it comes to delivering equitable justice, Ladakh is ignored for all practical purposes. He cited several instances to support his argument of Government deliberately ignoring Leh-Ladakh region.
Regarding Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Gialchan said that efforts are being made to dilute its freedom by increasing interference of Government officials sitting in Jammu and Srinagar. He maintained that the Ladakh Council should be allowed to function independently and interference should be reduced to lowest possible levels. "You cannot escape the responsibility just by saying that Ladakh is part of J&K, you have to treat it at par with other two regions i.e. Jammu and Ladakh," Gialchan was heard saying.
Gialchan said "We have very few officers from Ladakh. Though they are efficient and honest but they are ignored and never given important positions. Instead, they have to remain contended with a posting in their own region. This is discriminatory."
Referring to no representation of Ladakh in SSRB and Public Service Commission (PSC), Gialchan said "There is no one from Ladakh in the recruitment board. There are around 5 vacancies in PSC and Ladakh should be given due representation in this commission. We should be made to feel that we are part of Jammu and Kashmir." He stressed that several key departments in Leh-Ladakh region are without officers.
Gialchan maintained that Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) has failed to redress long pending issues of customers in Ladakh. "We do not have officers to take care of CAPD in Ladakh. We need them but we are not getting them," concluded Gialchan but not before threatening that Ladakh if ignored further, could think of other options. This was the word which none took seriously but Gialchan spoke with courage.
Gialchan, if Ladakhi leaders are to be believed has spoken what is now talk of the town in Ladakh and its peripheral areas. "We are being taken for granted. This cannot be tolerated for all time to come. We have to rise and seek our share. Government has been poking its nose in every affair of the Hill Development Council," is what a Ladakhi leader told Early Time Plus.
They stressed that Ccouncil has powers to transfer and post employees barring those from Police and Judiciary to a place of its choosing but in certain cases, Government has been using this power of council illegally and in breach of the council act. These leaders in one voice state that J&K cannot afford to take Ladakh non-seriously. "We have been demanding Union Territory status. Why should we suffer because of some issues concerning the two regions? We are Indians and do not feel need for allowing J&K official to violate our administrative competence.
They further said "As a compromise we accepted the LAHDC, but, though some powers have been delegated to the council, we are facing a lot of problems in implementing decisions. Everything has to be routed through Kashmir. Until and unless, we are separated from Kashmir, our problems will not be addressed and solved. There is no point in keeping Ladakh as part of Jammu and Kashmir."
Meanwhile, apart from Gialchan, Bashir Ahmed Magray while speaking over the Governor's address appreciated the efforts of the Government in improving service delivery to the public in a time bound manner and initiating several people friendly and landmark steps towards strengthening the democratic roots in the State.
Magray also highlighted the significance of several important road projects including Mughal Road, Narbal-Tangmarg road, four lanning of national highway etc. taken up by the Government for providing better connectivity and boosting economic growth and exploiting tourism potential of several scenic spots falling along these roads.
Sheikh Ghulam Rasool while speaking on the Governors address lauded the efforts of the Government in introducing efficiency and transparency in the delivery of public services. He called for establishing a separate department to look into the aspects of improving efficiency, training and capabilities of Government functionaries for better results on ground.
Sham Lal Bhagat appreciated the Government on establishing Panchayat Raj institutions in the State to strengthen the grass root level democracy. He said that although Government has taken several initiatives to upgrade school infrastructure in Doda district however, there is shortage of adequate staff in these schools. |
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