Leh: Climbing down from its earlier position, the Ladakh Buddhist Association, Kargil on Monday said that it is not in favour of statehood for the union territory of Ladakh, even as it demanded constitutional safeguards under the 6th schedule or any other provision on par with the sixth schedule.
These are among the final agendas decided by a Core Committee framed on 15 January, 2023 under the Chairmanship of Tsewang Norboo, President, LBA Kargil after detailed discussions and deliberations with all the concerned stakeholders of LBA Kargil.
These final agendas will be represented in the High Power Committee meetings on behalf of the Buddhist Minority Community of Kargil, said the LBA in a press conference.
The first agenda demanded the Constitutional safeguard to Union Territory of Ladakh under 6th Schedule of Constitution of India to protect their Land, Jobs, Environment, Language, Culture and Tribal identity or any other Constitutional safeguard at par with 6th Schedule specifically for Ladakh to protect the Land, Jobs, Environment, Language, Culture and Tribal identity.
“Ladakh is the only Union Territory of India having more than 95% Tribal population with its own unique culture and tribal identity. National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST), Govt of India has already expressed that Ladakh may be granted constitutional safeguard under 6th Schedule of the constitution in order to fulfill the aspiration of the people of Ladakh and to empower all LAHDCs constitutionally with the power of Legislature, Executive and Judiciary,” said the agenda.
The second agenda is regarding the delimitation of geographical boundaries of districts (LAHDCs) in Union Territory of Ladakh. “Delimitation Commission should be constituted at the earliest to curve out four (4) more Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in addition to the existing LAHDC, Leh and LAHDC, Kargil i,e LAHDC, Zanskar, LAHDC, Nubra, LAHDC, Sham and LAHDC, Drass for effective and efficient grassroots governance providing democratic representation to the local people of Ladakh,” it said.
The third agenda deals with making Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) mandatory for all Gazetted and Non-Gazetted jobs in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
In the fourth agenda, LBA said that it was not in the favour of the demand of full-fledged Statehood for Ladakh.
“People of Ladakh never ever had demanded statehood for Ladakh during past 70 years. Demand of people of Ladakh under the guidance and leadership of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche and veteran leaders under the banner of Ladakh Buddhist Association was only separation from erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state and declaration of Union Territory for Ladakh.
“We already have democracy and democratic representation of people In UT Ladakh in the form of LAHDCs,” the LBA said, adding, “Moreover lack of sustainable revenue resources In UT Ladakh may become a major hurdle to fulfill the demand of statehood.”
