Demand for Union Territory Status to Ladakh region
Ladakh is a Buddhist majority region and fundamentally different from the other parts of the Jammu and Kashmir in all respects – culturally, ethnically as well as linguistically.
While the Kashmir issue is related to secession from India, the Ladakh region demanded greater integration with India.
Demand for UT status
Since independence of India, Ladakh region alleged that there was systematic discrimination against them from the state government and there was threat to their culture. The demand from Ladakh for closer union with Indian government started as early as 1946 and continued ever since. The Ladakhi struggle against the Kashmiri domination started on real sense during nineteen-sixties. In 1964, there was first ever well organised attempt from the Ladakhis under the leadership of Kushok Bakula. The politically marginalised Ladakhis demanded for ‘NEFA-type Central administration’. But there was no response from New Delhi.
In 1974, Ladakhis again launched a full-scale movement and this time they stated their objective ‘Central administration for Ladakh’. The Ladakhis were unhappy with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah because he partitioned Ladakh in 1979 into Leh and Kargil districts based on communal lines. The Muslim-majority Kargil district was carved out of the Buddhist-majority Ladakh district to pit Muslims against Buddhists and weaken their movement to closer union with India, and weaken their struggle for political and economic empowerment. However, in 1982 there was another attempt by P Namgyal, Member of Parliament with somewhat radical orientation to the ongoing struggle. He did not demand NEFA-type Central administration, but regional autonomy within the State. This time also there was no response from New Delhi. The state government started suppressing their peace movement with police.
Again after seven years in 1989, there was another full scale struggle to achieve independence from Kashmir and obtain the status of Union Territory. The movement was spearheaded by the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA). The movement took place at a time of when the anti-India activities were gaining momentum in Kashmir. At the larger interest of the nation, the LBA suspended its agitation as well as their demand for Union Territory status.
Later the central government agreed to set up Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) on the lines of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. In October 1989, the tripartite agreement was signed between the State Government, the Central Government and the LBA. The PV Narasimha Rao government promulgated the LAHDC which became a bill in 1997. But the LAHDC was limited Leh region only as the Kargil district is not keen to acquire the union territory status. Since then the Ladakh region enjoyed autonomy through the hill councils but there are attempts made to defunct the LAHDC. The internal conflicts lines in the region on religious and the fear of Kashmir independence from India reached to an alarmed proportion and the demand for the Union Territory status and Greater Ladakh have been gaining momentum. But the demand is confined to Leh district only.
Current Status
Today, protection and restoration of Buddhism has emerged as a big challenge in the region. Their traditional values and culture has to compete with the emerging Indian culture. The young generation in the region who have exposure now are becoming violent. Government on its part has started some initiatives for national unity in the region like the Sindhu Darshan festival. But in the recent years, many political parties are fighting the local elections with granting of Union Territory status to Ladakh as its main poll plank.
The solution to the Ladakh demands lies in strengthening of the present administrative structure of hill council with required funds for the socio-economic development of the region. While government encouraging the tourist activities in the region, it should be take care of conflicts on religious lines. Trifurcation of the state may seem as a solution but it is fraught with other unknown consequences in the conflict-ridden Kashmir region. It may give Pakistan an opportunity to internationalise the issue whichIndia wants to avoid.Any solution to the Ladakh region should aim at protection and restoration of traditional peace-loving Buddhist culture.