Submits memorandum to Guv, but says ‘no dilution in UT status demand’

Arteev Sharma

The demand for a divisional status to Ladakh seems to have ironed out the differences between Kargil and Leh districts as the powerful Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, supported the demand of the Kargil Council by passing a unanimous resolution to achieve “better administrative set-up” for the arid region.

The Leh Council, however, made it clear that there was no “dilution” in its main demand for a union territory (UT) status to the Ladakh region, saying “it is the political aspiration of Ladakhi people”. In sharp contrast to this, the Kargil Council has said it was not in favour of “disintegration” of the state.

On December 1, the general house of the Leh Council met at the council secretariat wherein the demand for a divisional status to Ladakh was discussed and it was unanimously decided by all 30 councillors that they will adopt a resolution and submit a memorandum to Governor Satya Pal Malik, who is controlling the administrative affairs of the state.

In this context, a delegation of the Leh Council, comprising Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and all executive councillors, flew in to Jammu and met the Governor at Raj Bhawan on Monday. While submitting a memorandum to the Governor, the delegation demanded carving out a separate administrative division for Leh and Kargil districts.

“We have not diluted our demand for a UT status to Ladakh. We will continue to fight for it till our last breath. In the general house of the council, we unanimously passed a resolution to demand a divisional status to Ladakh to have a better administrative set-up in the region. Like Kashmir and Jammu divisions, we will have our own separate identity in the form of Ladakh division. This is the second stage for achieving our ultimate goal of a UT status to the region,” the Leh Council CEC told The Tribune.

The CEC said Kargil and Leh districts were united to achieve this at the earliest. “Although Kargil Council has not adopted a formal resolution in this regard, it is supporting the demand,” Namgyal said.

The major demands projected by the delegation included a UT status to Ladakh, restoration of the post of executive councillor in the Leh Council, opening of the Kailash Mansarovar route from Ladakh and inclusion of Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Courtesy:The Tribune, Dec 04,2018