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| We don’t want to be with J&K: Ladakhis | | |
Early Times Report
Leh, Oct 27: Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Srinagar visit and the recent proposals of New Delhi to initiate dialogue on Kashmir issue with various shades of opinions, the people of Ladakh have made a very strong point for their inclusion in the peace process and accede to their demand of Union Territory.
Thousands of people today congregated at the Polo Ground here, in a meeting convened by the District Congress Committee, to discuss the latest political developments vis-à-vis stakes of Ladakh in any process of dialogue aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue.
After day-long of deliberations, a resolution was passed which underlined that “the aspirations of the people of Ladakh is not something new as the people of this erstwhile Himalayan kingdom have been demanding the status of Union Territory with legislature for decades. Ladakhis have always aspired to be directly administered from New Delhi rather than keeping Ladakh with the Jammu & Kashmir state against their wishes. In the present scenario of the State, Ladakh, that had been an independent kingdom for about nine centuries, has been reduced to mere two districts. Right after the independence, even before Jammu & Kashmir finally acceded to the Indian Union, people of Ladakh sought separation of Ladakh from Jammu & Kashmir, and asked the Government of India to administer Ladakh directly from the Center on the pattern of the North Eastern Frontier Area (NEFA) administration or to make it a part of erstwhile Punjab. After the accession of Jammu & Kashmir with the Indian Union, there was no ground left to keep Ladakh still as a part of the State, because Ladakh was forcefully annexed to the Dogra Rule by Jammu Maharaja Gulab Singh’s Army general Zorawar Singh in 1834”.
The resolution further said, “since 1947 to date, every Ladakhi leaders and public representatives, in one voice, have demanded different arrangements from time to time such as NEFA type of administration, Central Administration, and finally the Union Territory status for Ladakh considering Ladakh’s unique cultural, linguistic and the geo-climatic conditions, and the discrimination it suffered at the hands of successive rulers of J&K for decades. However, to the hard luck of Ladakhi people, UT demand for Ladakh has got diluted with the ongoing political turmoil in Kashmir valley”.
“Ladakh has nothing in common linguistically, culturally, historically and geographically with other parts of Jammu & Kashmir. In addition to this, Ladakh remains physically isolated for nearly seven months a year from rest of the state and hardly depends on State’s winter and summer capitals. This unique region has its unique problems for which most of the laws legislated by the State Government have gone against our interests. Geographically Ladakh constitutes two-third of the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir, but in the 87 member state assembly, representation to Ladakh is very minimal as there are only four seats, two each for Leh and Kargil districts”, said the resolution.
Therefore, while welcoming Government of India’s intention to hold talks with different shades of opinions over the Kashmir issue, District Congress Committee requests the Prime Minster and the Home Minister to make sure that Ladakhi voice is also heard by involving us as well in the proposed talks. The DCC Leh on behalf of the people of Ladakh, also reiterates the longstanding Union Territory demand for this Trans Himalayan region because, Ladakh, from all aspects, fulfils all criteria for creating a Union Territory. At the same time people of Ladakh, through this resolution, firmly place on record, that we reject any solutions like Greater Autonomy or Self rule or restoration of pre-53 status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir which involves Ladakh in it. In the event of finding a final solution to the Kashmir issue, come what may, Ladakh shall not settle for anything less than Union Territory with Legislature for it.
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