Ladakh set to get safeguards through Hill Councils, new Distts, another Army battalion

JAMMU, July 28: The Union Territory of Ladakh is likely to get safeguards for land, culture, jobs etc through Autonomous Hill Development Councils, four new districts, another battalion of Army under Ladakh Scouts, inclusion of Boti language in 8th Schedule, speeding up of work on Kargil airport and permission to civilian aircrafts to land at Nubra airport.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is considering all these issues and is expected to give its nod shortly.

However, the grant of Sixth Schedule status and Statehood to Ladakh have almost been ruled out by the Home Ministry on the ground that most of the safeguards being sought by the Ladakh bodies will be covered through the powers being given to Leh and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Councils.
Statehood has been ruled out on the ground that Union Territory was long pending demand of the people, which originated mostly in Leh district, and it has been fulfilled by the Central Government on August 5, 2019 when erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was stripped off special status and bifurcated into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
“Powers to the Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil will be given in such a way that the safeguards issue of the Ladakh bodies is adequately addressed,” the sources told the Excelsior.
Further, they said, the Union Home Ministry is likely to give its nod to the Ladakh administration for creation of four more districts in the Union Territory including Nubra and Zanskar.
Sources said raising of another regular battalion in the Army under Ladakh Scouts and inclusion of Boti language in 8th Schedule are the two major demands which are likely to be met with shortly.
While all-weather connectivity to Ladakh via road may take some time, the Government will expedite work on Kargil airport for its earlier completion. At the same time, the Defence Ministry is likely to give permission for landing of civilian aircrafts at Thoise airport in Nubra for improved connectivity during four months of winter when Srinagar-Leh National Highway get closed.
“Wildlife Sanctuary related issues of Ladakh will also be addressed,” they said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the BJP unit of Ladakh UT today called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and raised various demands.
The delegation headed by UT president Phunchok Stanzin comprised CEC-cum-Chairman Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh Tashi Gyalson, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, former MP, Stanzin Lakpa, BJP district president Zanskar, Stanzin Delik, BJP district president Nubra and Mohammad Ali Chandan, BJP district president Kargil.
Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk today announced that he will launch a 28-day fast on Independence Day if the Government does not invite Ladakh authorities for talks on demands for Statehood and constitutional protection for the Union Territory.
Wangchuk said the Apex Body, Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) from Ladakh submitted a memorandum of demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Drass on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas last week.
“We did not want to push the Government too much during the elections. We wanted to give them some breathing space after the polls; we were hopeful that the new Government would take some concrete steps.
“We hope they will invite our leaders for talks following the submission of the memorandum. If that doesn’t happen, we will launch another round of protests,” he told a news agency.
He said he will start a 28-day fast on August 15, when the country will celebrate its 78th Independence Day.
It may be mentioned here that Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance held several rounds of talks with Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai during Modi 2.0 Government on Sixth Schedule, Statehood, dedicated PSC and two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh.
The talks were deadlocked after the MHA refused to give Statehood and Sixth Schedule.
The BJP which had won Ladakh Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and 2019 lost it in 2024 elections. Independent candidate Mohammad Haneefa Jan won the seat.