Srinagar: The formation of the UT of Ladakh evoked mixed reactions from political parties in the region, with those in Kargil observing it as a ‘black day’ and leaders in Leh seeing it as an opportunity for development.
Though there was jubilation in the remote Buddhist enclave of Leh over Ladakh being made a UT, several local political parties have demanded certain legal and constitutional guarantees including under Article 371 to secure their land, jobs and socio-economic interests, and culture.
They have also asked for Ladakh being declared a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. However, in Kargil district of Ladakh, where Shia Muslims are in majority, various political parties and leaders have voiced concern over the move and want certain assurances pertaining to their political, cultural and economic interests.
They are also apprehensive of probable “hegemony” of Leh and its Buddhist population.
In Jammu too, several political parties and sections of population are worried over the turn of events.
They have demanded that the Centre put in place a provision of “domicile” requirement for various purposes, including purchase of land to protect the interests of the citizens of the region. This, they say, could be a provision under which a person who wants to buy land or seeks a job in a government department or agency should have lived in the state for a certain period of time as is the arrangement in Himachal Pradesh and North-Eastern states.
The people of J&K have accepted the carving out of Ladakh as an union territory, said BJP MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, who stole the show during a debate on the bifurcation of the state in Lok Sabha with his comment picture abhi baki hai (the end is yet to come)'. “The people of Ladakh have been waiting for this for the last 71 years. We see this move as an inclusive development plan. This place has immense potential for border security, defence, ecosystem and medicinal plants, besides tourism. “Developing this into a UT will bring in more opportunities for infrastructure development”, he told PTI.
Markets were shut in Kargil town from Wednesday and a joint action committee, comprising political and religious groups, observed October 31 as a ‘black day’.
Former chairperson of the Kargil Hill Development Council Asgar Ali Karbalai expressed unhappiness over Ladakh becoming a UT and said “we are totally against this decision”.
