Ladakh demurs

The reaction in Ladakh to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly's autonomy resolution was mixed. SHUJAAT BUKHARI takes a look.

THE REACTION in Ladakh to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly's autonomy resolution was mixed. Leh town observed a strike and protested against the demand, Kargil was quiet as were pockets in Leh district. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) passed a resolution seeking separation for the State.

Of Ladakh's two districts, Kargil's population is 13 per cent Buddhist and 87 per cent Muslim, and in Leh Buddhists form 85 per cent and Muslims 15. There are some who wish to portray that Muslims favour autonomy for J & K and Buddhists want Union Territory status for Ladakh. But this is not quite true.

The Ladakh Buddhist Association's demand for Union Territory status for the region, to end the alleged discrimination of the last five decades, culminated in the creation of the LAHDC in 1995, when J & K was under President's Rule. But in 1996 the ruling National Conference bagged one of the two Assembly seats from Leh - Nobra - indicating that there were also those who want to continue with the rest of the State, which stand the NC had been championing.

The LAHDC chairman, Mr. Thupstan Chhewang, when contacted, categorically said ``we are not against autonomy but want a separation from the State as a Union Territory.'' The State Minister, Mr. Qamar Ali Akhoon, has another take on the situation. He says the Congress(I) dominates the LAHDC only because the NC did not participate when elections were last held. He points out that the NC won all three LAHDC seats for which byelections were held and claims that in the elections due in August the party will capture the LAHDC. This will ``demolish the propaganda unleashed against the NC at the behest of some people at the Centre''. The State Government described the LAHDC resolution as ``unconstitutional and illegal''. ``A panchayat resolution cannot replace the Assembly resolution,'' said an NC leader .

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Section  : Opinion
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