Congress slams Modi govt over unfulfilled commitments to Ladakh
Demands Leh inquiry findings, 6th Schedule protection and democratic rights for Ladakhis
New Delhi : The Congress has criticized the BJP-led Indian government for failing to honour its commitments to the people of Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demanded the immediate release of the judicial inquiry findings into last year’s deadly violence in Leh, extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to Ladakh and restoration of full democratic institutions in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Congress General Secretary in-charge of IIOJK and Ladakh Naseer Hussain said the Indian government must engage with Ladakh sincerely and in good faith, instead of repeating the empty promise of “an appropriate time” for addressing their concerns. “Ladakh has already waited seven years. We stand, without reservation, with the people of Ladakh in their continued, peaceful pursuit of justice and of their rightful place within our democracy,” Hussain said in a statement.
“We honour the memory of four young sons of Ladakh, Tsewang Tharchin, Jigmet Dorjey, Stanzin Namgyal and Rinchen Dadul, whose lives were taken one year ago in Leh when police opened fire upon peaceful protesters. Their sacrifice shall not be forgotten, and we reaffirm our steadfast solidarity with their families, who continue to bear a grief that no passage of time can diminish,” he said.
Hussain said that when Article 370 was abrogated and Ladakh was constituted as a Union Territory, its people were given clear and solemn assurances that remedial measures would follow to protect their interests. “Nearly seven years later, those assurances remain unfulfilled. A commitment repeatedly deferred, without a date, a bill, or a parliamentary session ever attached to it, is, in every practical sense, a commitment broken,” he said.
Hussain said that the people of Ladakh have sought nothing that is unreasonable or beyond the spirit of the Indian Constitution. “They have asked for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, so that their land, livelihoods, fragile environment and distinct identity may enjoy genuine legal protection; for the restoration of full democratic institutions, including a legislature of their own; and for sincere dialogue with the Indian government, free of preconditions and further delay. Each of these demands has been met, in turn, with delay, deflection or force, and each remains as legitimate today as it was a year ago,” he said.
He said the continued denial of that the Sixth Schedule protection represented a failure to honour the principles of federalism, a failure to uphold the rights of citizens in a strategically vital border region, and a failure to live up to the democratic values.
Listing the Congress’ demands, Hussain called for publication of the status and findings of the judicial inquiry into the Leh killings; extend the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh to protect its land, jobs, fragile environment, culture and identity; and establishment of full democratic institutions, including a legislature chosen by and answerable to the people of Ladakh.
