The ongoing Article 370 challenge hearings in the Supreme Court have elicited a response from Sajjad Kargili, a political activist from Ladakh. The activist’s tweet comes in response to a statement made during the proceedings.
In a tweet addressing the recent statement by the Solicitor General (SG), where he mentioned that Ladakh would remain a Union Territory (UT) but UT not a permanent feature for J&K, Kargili expressed his concerns. He wrote, “No one has the right to snatch the legislative powers from the people of #Ladakh. The residents of Ladakh have also expressed their demand for statehood and inclusion under the sixth schedule, and these aspirations should be promptly addressed.”
Kargili’s tweet reflected the broader sentiment in Ladakh, where there have been calls for greater representation and inclusion within the Union Territory’s governance structure. He raised pertinent questions, asking why the decision was made to separate Ladakh from the erstwhile state if it didn’t result in better governance.
No one has the right to snatch the legislative powers from the people of #Ladakh.
— 𝐒𝐚𝐣𝐣𝐚𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢 | سجاد کرگلی (@SajjadKargili_) August 29, 2023
The residents of Ladakh have also expressed their demand for statehood and inclusion under the sixth schedule, and these aspirations should be promptly addressed.
If the Government fails to… https://t.co/LJgvfFdtSk
The activist highlighted the historical benefits that Ladakh had enjoyed, including representation, special status, and statehood. With the current situation of unemployment among the youth and perceived lack of representation, Kargili’s message underscored the need for a stronger voice for Ladakh within the Union Territory.
His tweet resonates with the events that unfolded earlier this year. In February this year, hundreds of Ladakh residents gathered in Delhi to demand statehood and constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory. Representatives from both Kargil and Leh asserted that if Sikkim, with a population of only 2.5 lakh, could be granted statehood, the same could be done for Ladakh, which has a population of around 3 lakh (as per the 2011 Census).
Rejecting the high-powered committee (HPC) constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 2, the speakers stated that any dialogue would henceforth be held directly with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They claimed that the committee was merely a pretext to mislead them.
Former BJP MP from Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang, then highlighted that not a single job had been given to locals since Ladakh became a Union Territory. He stated that if their demands were not met, they were prepared to intensify their protest. Chhewang added that the protest calendar for 2023 and 2024 had already been prepared.
As the hearings in the Supreme Court continue, Kargili’s tweet adds a local perspective to the national discourse surrounding Ladakh’s political and developmental aspirations. It remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed both legally and politically as the deliberations unfold.
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Haseena Ayoob is a regular contributor of The Chenab Times.
