Locals Voice Concerns Over Land Takeover by Industries, Outsiders

Rapid Summary

• climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and Ladakh residents are on a hunger strike demanding:

1. Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (tribal status).
2. Statehood for Ladakh.
3.Separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
4. Filling of existing government vacancies.

• Ladakh became a Union Territory (UT) in August 2019, but statehood demands remain unmet.
• A High-Powered Committee (HPC), set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address issues, has held multiple rounds of irregular talks since January 2023; participants claim two key demands-Statehood and Sixth schedule inclusion-haven’t been addressed.
• Protest leader Cherring Dorjay Lakruk stated that fears about losing land, jobs, and cultural identity due to outside influence are driving the protests.
• President Droupadi Murmu previously notified regulations related to reservation, domicile policies, languages, and hill council composition in May; protestors argue these do not resolve their central concerns.
• The current hunger strike is planned for at least 35 days with over 400-500 participants, but numbers may grow if unsatisfactory progress is made.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ongoing protests represent a critical moment in Ladakh’s journey as an independent Union Territory post its separation from Jammu & Kashmir in August 2019. The region’s demand for constitutional safeguards underlines growing apprehensions regarding its cultural preservation, economic future, and political depiction.

The slow pace of dialog between Ladakhi representatives and New Delhi poses challenges both regionally-were socio-economic benefits are perceived as limited-and logistically given strategic sensitivities near China’s border. while central regulations notified earlier touched lesser points like reservations or council structures, they fell short on statehood desires or guarantees against large-scale external influences.

Addressing Ladakhi grievances transparently could serve national interests by promoting trust among border communities while reinforcing democratic values across India’s hinterlands.

Read More