MP SEEKS CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARD TO SAVE LADAKH’S UNIQUE IDENTITY

After 370 abrogations, Union Territory declaration of Ladakh, there has been one fear amongst the people of Ladakh that is to save their land and economy. There has been a constant demand to enforce Constitutional safeguards.

In order to make it happen, Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal put up this matter in Parliament and demanded Constitutional safeguards for Ladakh on the line of 6th schedule concerning land, employment, environment, and cultural identity, etc. 

On 14 December 2021, during the ongoing session of Lok Sabha, MP Namgyal said that the aspirations of the people of Ladakh demanding for Constitutional safeguards must be fulfilled through amendment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act. 1997 on the line of 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution and must define proper role and responsibilities of the Central government, UT Administration and the Hill Council by way of amendment in the Council Act. 

While speaking to The Daily Guardian, MP Namgyal said that streamlining between the Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Ladakh, Panchayat Raj Institutions and also Administration of Union Territory Ladakh is a must to avoid the conflicts of role, power, and jurisdictions of responsibilities.

He further said that it is essential for Ladakh to safeguard its land like in Himachal, no non-Himachal person can buy land for industry or home beyond a limit. There is also a threat to Ladakh’s own identity that was mostly saved when it became Union Territory and it would become completely safe once aforesaid constitutional amendments are made in the line of the 6th and 5th schedule of the Indian Constitution. 

In a nutshell, MP Namgyal demanded to strengthen the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils by providing all the better provisions that are given and provided to the Autonomous District Councils under the 6th and 5th schedules of the Indian Constitution.

There is also a threat to Ladakh’s own identity which is mostly saved when it became Union Territory and it would become completely safe once aforesaid constitutional amendments are made in the line of the 6th and 5th schedule of the Indian Constitution.