JAMMU: To cool down the soaring tempers of Ladakh residents amid demand for Sixth Schedule and statehood, the Union government is likely to create new administrative units in the Union Territory before the Lok Sabha elections.
Residents of Ladakh UT have launched an agitation since the past some time demanding Sixth Schedule for the tribal region, statehood, two Lok Sabha seats (presently one) and employment for locals.
While a meeting of a delegation of Ladakh leaders, comprising Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai is scheduled on February 19, it has been reliably learnt that the central government is contemplating to provide more administrative units to the UT.
The government is also planning to give more powers to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) of Leh and Kargil.
Ladakh residents have since long demanded district status for Zanskar in Kargil and Nubra in Leh. At present there are only two districts in the UT ndash; Leh and Kargil. The government is likely to create Zanskar and Nubra as separate districts, sources have informed.
It has been reliably learnt that the central government is in no mood to grant full statehood to Ladakh. However, discussions on granting of Sixth Schedule and jobs to locals will continue.
LAB and KDA are continuing an agitation for long in which locals have also supported them. While many in Buddhist dominated Leh believe that UT status with Sixth Schedule will fulfil the aspirations of the locals, those in Kargil have been adamant on the demand of statehood. The initial agitation in 2021 started with the demand of only Sixth Schedule while three other demands were added later.
Sources have informed that Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal has also discussed with senior leaders the negative impact the agitation can have on the Lok Sabha election for the sole seat in the UT.
“The central government may soon announce two new district ndash; Zanskar and Nubra ndash; in Ladakh which will fulfil the long standing demand of the locals as both the areas are located very far from the present district headquarters,” sources said.
After MoS Nityanand Rai asked the KDA and LAB to give their four demands in writing in last meeting on December 4 last year, the document was submitted with the ministry. “In the February 19 meeting, the discussion between Ladakh delegation and MHA panel with move forward and it is expected that a consensus may be formed. It seems that further rounds of discussions will be required to come to any decision by the Home Ministry,” sources informed.
Besides 14 members from LAB and KDA, L-G of Ladakh, Brig BD Mishra (retd), MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and both chairpersons of Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil are also expected to take part in the meeting.–(Agencies)
