What Are Ladakh's Demands From The Govt?

Srinagar: Despite freezing temperatures, thousands of men and women marched through Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region earlier this month, following the call for a complete shutdown by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). These two groups, formed in the Muslim-majority Kargil and Buddhist-majority Leh districts, have come together to demand special rights for the people of Ladakh after the region was separated from Jammu and Kashmir with the abrogation of Article 370.

The civil society of Ladakh recently presented a set of demands to the government of India, including the request for Sixth Schedule status, the establishment of a separate Public Service Commission, the granting of statehood to Ladakh, and an amendment to the Reorganization Act of 2019. As a result, the group has been invited for a second round of talks with the High Powered Committee in New Delhi on February 19.

The leaders were asked to draft their demands following their first round of meeting with the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on 4 December 2023.

According to the memorandum submitted to the government, the representatives have justified granting of land and job rights for the people of the region and have urged the government to address their demands keeping in view of the sensitivity of the region.

The people of Ladakh, as per the memorandum, feel disappointment that in the process of becoming a separate entity from the state of J&K, they have lost the right to be represented at the state level, rather than gaining the autonomy they had hoped for.

“As per the promises of the central government as well as the recent judgment of the Supreme