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Defence & Security
Mahesh

28/01/24 07:14 AM IST

Ladakh’s demand on Gilgit-Baltistan

In News
  • Ladakh demands include extending the territorial control of Ladakh up to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Current status of Ladakh
  • Ladakh, spread over 59,146 square kilometres, was a part of the Kashmir division of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • It was carved out as one of the Union Territories, the other being J&K, out of the State on August 5, 2019, as the Centre ended the special constitutional position of the region provided to it under Article 370. However, unlike the UT of J&K, Ladakh does not have a legislature.
  • But it has two elected hill councils, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil (LAHDC) and LAHDC-Leh.
  • They run micro governance issues of the region with a population of 2.74 lakh (2011 census). Ladakh is a Muslim-majority UT, with the Leh district dominated by Buddhists and Kargil by Shia Muslims.
  • The region witnessed a divided reaction to the Centre’s moves to abrogate Article 370 and 35A, provisions that granted exclusive rights to locals over land, jobs and natural resources.
Demands of the region
  • Earlier, Ladakh would send four members to the J&K Assembly and two members to the State’s legislative council.
  • There is also a unanimous cry for special status under the Sixth Schedule and Article 371 of the Constitution of India on the lines of Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim and other northeastern States.
  • People of Ladakh argue that opening up the region to outsiders and outside investment will impact “the most ecologically fragile and sensitive areas.”
  • Ladakh also demands exclusive rights over recruitment.
  • It has put forth a proposal to the Centre to have the Ladakh Public Service Commission for the recruitment of gazetted jobs.
  • It also demands that the twin hill councils should have the power to recruit lower rung staff for the region.
  • The Ladakh resident certificate should be the only basis for applying for these jobs in the region, said the key bodies of Ladakh in the memorandum.
Extension of territorial control
  • Prior to 1947, the Ladakh district also comprised the Gilgit-Baltistan area, which is now under the occupation of Pakistan.
  • The memorandum highlights the fact and seeks extension of territorial control up to Gilgit-Baltistan.
  • The memorandum impressed upon the Centre to make “attempts to include this area into Ladakh”.
  • It demanded reservation of seats for Gilgit-Baltistan once a legislature is granted to the region.
  • Ladakh also shares a long but volatile Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and saw a violent skirmish between the troops of these countries in 2020.
  • The fresh memorandum to MHA underlines that “empowering the locals will foster stability in the region, further enhancing the foreign policy”.
Central govt. Stand
  • The Centre had assured the people it would find “an appropriate solution to the issues related to language, culture and conservation of land in Ladakh.”
  • However, it has failed to arrive at a solution. After a fresh bout protests in 2023, another high-powered committee, with Minister of State Nityanand Rai at its head, was empowered to engage with the stakeholders of Ladakh.
  • The 17-member committee included the Ladakh Lieutenant Governor and members from the KDA and LAB.
  • In 2024, these bodies submitted a written memorandum to pave the way for more structured talks between New Delhi and Ladakh over the list of demands.
Source- The Hindu

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