Congress Urges Govt to Address Ladakh’s Legitimate Aspirations Without Delay
Party calls for immediate action on Sixth Schedule protections and elected legislature for Ladakh.
New Delhi, Oct 26: The Congress on Friday demanded that the government promptly address the legitimate aspirations of the people of Ladakh, stressing that dialogue alone is insufficient. The call comes in the wake of violent protests on Wednesday demanding statehood, which left four dead and 90 others injured.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted that six years after Ladakh became a Union Territory, residents have faced disappointment over unmet expectations. He pointed to threats to land and employment rights, administrative overreach by the Lieutenant Governor and bureaucracy, and delays in granting protections under the Sixth Schedule and an elected legislature.
Ramesh also expressed concern over security uncertainties stemming from China’s actions on the Line of Actual Control and the Prime Minister’s 2020 “clean chit” to Beijing. Emphasizing Ladakh’s cultural, economic, ecological, and strategic significance, he said, “The distress and anguish of the people of Ladakh must awaken the Government’s conscience not just for more talks but to fulfill their legitimate aspirations in full measure at the very earliest.”
Meanwhile, an uneasy calm prevailed in Leh as police and paramilitary forces strictly enforced a curfew. Authorities have detained at least 50 individuals connected to the violence during the shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) demanding Sixth Schedule protections and statehood.
This development underscores rising tensions in Ladakh and mounting pressure on the government to act decisively on the region’s long-standing demands.
