NEW DELHI: Ladakh groups on Saturday announced a mass shutdown on June 23, alleging that the Centre did not include key decisions from last month’s meeting on the Union territory’s political and constitutional future in the official minutes, deepening their mistrust.
Allegations of Omission
“Certain decisions were taken during that meeting, but they were not properly reflected in the Minutes of the Meeting,” said Chering Dorjay, co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), at a press conference in the capital, Leh. The LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), is leading the ongoing movement.
Dorjay was referring to a meeting held on May 22 with a Union home ministry–led sub-committee. He stated that the discussions included a proposed democratic structure for Ladakh with legislative, executive, and financial powers, along with constitutional safeguards that could be incorporated through a proposed Article 371K.
He added that it was also agreed in the meeting that the entire bureaucracy, including the chief secretary, would function under the authority of an elected executive in Ladakh.
Warning Over Dalai Lama Visit
Dorjay also cautioned that the Centre would be mistaken to assume the local population would remain quiet or refrain from action simply because the Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Leh next week. “There are many ways to protest, and such protests do not necessarily have to take place in Leh,” he remarked. However, transport services would remain operational in view of the ongoing tourist season.
Deepening Mistrust
The two groups also warned that the omission of key decisions from the official minutes has deepened mistrust and could push them back toward their original demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards for the region.
Background of Protests
A statehood protest in Leh turned violent in September last year, after which the Union government detained environmentalist and educator Sonam Wangchuk under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenged his detention in the Supreme Court. He was later released in March from a prison in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, where he had been held.
Ladakh was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. In August 2019, both Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir were reorganised into separate Union Territories, bringing them under the direct control of the Centre. (With PTI inputs)
