Ladakh sees public, political awakening
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 29
The year generated a lot of heat on the political and social arenas in the country’s cold desert, Ladakh, where residents displayed a high level of political awakening with regard to their rights.
The region also showed some flexibility on its long-pending demand for the Union Territory status. Its two ideologically different districts — Kargil and Leh — were, however, unanimous on the refurbished demand for a divisional status to Ladakh for a “better administrative set-up” in the region.
However, an attempt was also made to create a communal discord between Kargil and Leh districts on the issue of establishment of a university in Ladakh, which snowballed into a controversy by the year-end.
On the political front, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in Leh and Kargil passed separate but unanimous resolutions to demand divisional status to Ladakh. The demand was, however, objected to by PDPpresident Mehbooba Mufti, who, according to leaders from Ladakh, tried to sabotage the demand by seeking divisional status for the erstwhile Doda and Pir Panjal regions.
After the Leh and Kargil Councils approached the Governor’s administration with written requests, Governor Satya Pal Malik was quick to respond, saying the issue was “under consideration and whatever will be in the interest of the people of Ladakh will be done.”
Ladakh also witnessed the first-ever civic elections, besides holding the panchayat polls. Despite tough terrain and harsh weather, Ladakhi people came out in large numbers to vote.
The year was not good for the BJP, which has been ruling the Leh Council, as its popularity dwindled. The BJP drew a blank in the municipal polls in both districts.
The party has been facing a leadership crisis after the resignation of its senior leader from the region and lone MP Thupstan Chhewang in November, who accused the party of “exhibiting little concern for implementing the categorical assurances given at the time of the 2014 elections”.
Ladakh also erupted in protest over its demand for a full-fledged university. Local leaders claimed that over 30,000 students were forced to pursue higher studies outside.
Initially, Leh witnessed a shutdown in support of the university demand. The Governor’s administration conceded by announcing a cluster university for Ladakh but it led to anger in Kargil for basing the university’s headquarters in Leh.
The year that was
May 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation of the Zojila tunnel for all-weather connectivity to Ladakh
Aug 9: Cloudburst wreaks havoc in
Leh villages
Aug 31: Kargil Council poll throws a hung verdict. NC emerges single largest party
Oct 20: The BJP draws blank in the first-ever civic polls in Ladakh
Oct 28: Leh Council Chief Executive Councillor Dorjey Motup resigns
Nov 1: Leh shuts down to demand university for region. Ladakhi students protest in Jammu
Nov 14: The BJP suffers major setback. Its lone Lok Sabha member from Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang resigns
Nov 16: Kargil Council chairman demands separate divisional status for Ladakh but the Council passes unanimous resolution on December 6
Nov 18: Chhewang writes to PM, BJP chief Amit Shah to express resentment against the hollow promises made with Ladakh
Dec 1: The Leh Council unanimously resolves to demand divisional status for Ladakh
Dec 18: Kargil observes shutdown to protest the Governor’s decision of creating the headquarters of new cluster university in Leh
