May 21st 2024.
The peaceful Union Territory of Ladakh, which was created in 2019 after being carved out of the larger state of Jammu & Kashmir, recently held its much-awaited elections. The main highlight of these polls was the contest for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Ladakh, the largest Parliamentary constituency in terms of area. This election is considered to be a crucial one as its outcome may serve as a referendum on the region's demand for statehood and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Ladakh is divided into two distinct regions - Leh, with a majority of Buddhist population, and Kargil, with a majority of Shia Muslim population. For many years, the Buddhist community has been advocating for a separate region for their people, while those in Kargil have expressed their desire to merge with the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir. However, the events of 5th August 2019, when Article 370 of the Constitution was revoked, brought about a change in the sentiments of the people of Ladakh. Initially, they were happy about the decision as they saw it as a way to escape from the discrimination they faced as a part of undivided Jammu & Kashmir. They had long been demanding either a separate state or Union Territory status. However, their happiness was short-lived, and soon the people of Kargil and Leh came together to form the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance. Their aim was to address the issues faced by the people of Ladakh, as they realized that now the UT was being controlled from Delhi, and the local inhabitants had no say in the decision-making process. The two civil society groups organized massive demonstrations to protest against the Union government for not fulfilling their demand for statehood. They also demanded the implementation of the Sixth Schedule, a Constitutional safeguard that protects the rights of tribal communities to establish self-governing bodies for matters related to land, healthcare, and agriculture, among others. It is noteworthy that almost 97% of Ladakh's population belongs to tribal groups.
The demand for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule gained international attention in March this year when renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk went on a 21-day hunger strike in sub-zero temperatures. Thousands of people joined him in his cause, as they believed that autonomy and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule were vital in safeguarding the region's fragile ecosystem and the interests of its people. Wangchuk accused the ruling party, BJP, of backing out on their promise to include Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. The Himalayan region is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, putting its inhabitants at great risk. The melting glaciers have resulted in water scarcity and increased instances of floods, making life even more challenging for the locals. Implementation of the Sixth Schedule has become a pressing need for Ladakh to combat these threats.
Apart from these issues, another significant concern is the encroachment of pasture lands by China. These lands are traditionally used by the local nomadic tribes for grazing their livestock. There have been reports of Chinese troops entering Ladakh and preventing the locals from accessing their grazing areas, leading to increased tensions. In January this year, a confrontation took place between a group of local herders and the People's Liberation Army soldiers when they were stopped from taking their cattle to their customary grazing areas near the Line of Actual Control. The location of Ladakh holds great geostrategic importance for India as it shares borders with both China and Pakistan, both of which were strongly opposed to India's decision to revoke Article 370. This problem has become more complex as the Government of India refuses to accept the ground realities and recognize China's occupation of vast stretches of land in Ladakh in recent times.
Regardless of the election results, one cannot help but admire the united efforts of the people of Ladakh, who have come together for a common cause, setting aside their differences of region and religion. This serves as a valuable lesson for the rest of the country, where people often get divided over irrelevant issues.
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