Rigzin Spalbar
The forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to J&K is very important and crucial for Ladakh. All of Ladakh is eagerly awaiting his visit and the region is abuzz with speculation that he will make announcements on issues such as Divisional Status, inclusion of Bhoti in the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution, a medical college, opening of Kailash-Mansarovar road from Demjok, clarification on stalemate over the construction of the Zojila Tunnel, opening of Kargil-Skardo road etc.
BJP created history by winning the Ladakh seat for the first time in the 2014 Parliamentary elections. This victory was won on the promise of granting Union Territory status to Ladakh within six months of coming to power along with other demands such as the inclusion of Bhoti in the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution, opening of the Demjok route to Kailash-Mansarovar, induction of MP, Ladakh as a Union Minister etc. However, none of these promises were fulfilled despite the Prime Minister making two visits to Ladakh in 2014 and 2017. This has not gone down well with the people of Ladakh. This is reflected in the gradual decline of support for BJP and the resulting loss of the 2017 Thiksey LAHDC Constituency by-elections in the wake of unfortunate demise of the then CEC, Dr. Sonam Dawa Lonpo. This was followed by the complete rout of BJP in the Municipal Committee, Leh Elections in 2018 in which the Congress won all 13 seats. However, the sharpest blow to the BJP was delivered by its MP from Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang who resigned from the Parliament and the party and squarely placed the blame on the BJP and its central leadership. In a letter to Prime Minister Modi, Thupstan Chhewang stated that as a local representative his position had increasingly become morally and politically untenable even as the party and its Central leaders show little concern for implementing the categorical assurances and promises made during the 2014 elections and exposing it to the charge of making false promises. In his letter, Thupstan Chhewang questions Prime Minister Modi, “Sir, in 2014 and its aftermath we had the privilege of you as the Prime Minister going around the country projecting the first time BJP victories in the Ladakh Parliamentary and the Leh Hill Council as signs of the increasing reach of the party. What could you tell people now?” He further writes, “What was achieved five years ago was on the strength of slogans which to the electorate at large would sound like empty rhetoric at this juncture.”
These events, culminating with the unexpected resignation of MP Ladakh, caused alarm bells to ring in the BJP High Command and forced them to do some damage control. What Thupstan Chhewang could not achieve in four and half years of his tenure; he seems to have achieved with a master-stroke in the form of his resignation. It is in the backdrop of these events and the forthcoming Parliamentary election in 2019 that the upcoming visit of PM Modi assumes great significance for the people of Ladakh. In fact, people have high expectations and one cannot rule out the possibility of some new announcements to fulfill long-pending demands that were promised during the 2014 elections.
It is also important to highlight the sudden change in BJP, Leh’s stand on Divisional Status for the Ladakh. Led by the present Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC, Leh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, BJP, Leh had earlier strongly opposed Divisional Status on the ground that it would dilute the demand for UT status. In fact, he had written an article in Daily Excelsior stating that Divisional Status was devised to keep Ladakh polarised and subjugated forever. He had further written, “In the hindsight, conferment of LAHDCs too has damaged the cause for UT status.” BJP, Leh has taken everyone by surprise by changing its stand. It convened a special meeting of Leh Hill Council with day’s notice to adopt a resolution demanding Divisional Status for Ladakh. He then travelled to Jammu and presented the resolution to Governor, Satya Pal Malik. This sudden and unexpected move suggests that BJP has realised that it can no longer fool the people of Ladakh with the UT issue in the upcoming elections and has now decided to push and announce Divisional Status to contain the damage it has suffered. Their motive notwithstanding, this change of heart amongst local BJP leaders is a welcome step in thelarger interest and integration of Leh and Kargil.
The people of Ladakh, which includes of Leh and Kargil districts, overwhelmingly support Divisional Status. However, Divisional Status must not be superficial with the mere posting of a Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police. It must be real with the creation of directorates of all the departments and other structures that make up a division as evident in the two divisions that currently exist in the state. Nawang Rigzin Jora, former Minister and ex-MLA, has submitted a written representation to the Governor and State Administrative Council with suggestions and recommendations based on his personal experience of working in the Hill Council and the State Cabinet to harmonise the functioning of Hill Councils with the Divisional Administrative set up. He has cautioned against granting Divisional Status in a manner that would lead to dichotomy and undermine the Hill Councils.
The genuine fulfillment of the election promises, assurances and commitments made by the BJP to the people of Ladakh will go a long way in assuaging the growing apathy towards them. However, apprehensions are being voiced in various circles in Leh and Kargil that the declaration of a Divisional headquarters may further aggravate the polarisation seen between Leh and Kargil during Parliamentary elections. These apprehensions being expressed in civil society and political circles is not without merit. Leh is within BJP’s sphere of influence, while its support base in Kargil is negligible. There is a high probability that if BJP does grant Divisional Status to Ladakh, it will declare Leh as the Divisional headquarters as this may help the party in the 2019 Parliamentary elections. If this does happen, it would be a very myopic decision that will widen the communication gap between Leh and Kargil and cause irreparable damage to the social fabric of Ladakh. This possibility is strengthened by the response to the recent announcement of Cluster University for Ladakh where Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, Leh was declared as the lead college. This led to unprecedented resentment and protests in Kargil and fuelled strong apprehensions that Leh was being favoured in every respect. It is in this context that the announcement of the headquarters for Ladakh Division must be made after taking Leh and Kargil into confidence. If this is not done, it will empower forces inimical to the interest of Ladakh to instigate conflicts between Kargil and Leh. Therefore, as a preemptive measure, the leaders of Leh and Kargil must meet and hold dialogues to evolve a consensus. In my opinion, the most appropriate solution would be format of the State Government’s Darbar move (and a similar move of the Government machinery between Leh and Skardo in pre-independence Ladakh. Thus, the Divisional headquarters could rotate between Leh and Kargil every six months.
There is hardly any difference in the outlook and aspirations of the people of Leh and Kargil. However, the lack of dialogues and communication between the two has led to divisions and conflicts. At present, there is no formal mechanism to resolve issues bilaterally. In fact, the LAHDC Act has taken this into account and provided a constitutional provision within the act (CHAPTER IX Section 50) to constitute an Inter-District Advisory Council in consultation with the Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil. The Inter-District Advisory Council is meant to advise the Hill Councils (a) on matters of common interest to both districts; (b) on measures to be adopted to resolve differences between the Hill Councils; and (c) on measures to be taken to preserve communal harmony in Ladakh. The government can constitute such a Council through a notification in the Government Gazette.
There have been some murmurs against granting Division to Ladakh or declaring Cluster University for Ladakh. However, one must remember that Ladakh can never be compared with the rest of the state or the country. It cannot be measured by the same yardsticks in terms of norms and guidelines that have been framed on the basis of conditions prevalent in the rest of the country. Ladakh is geographically isolated with a sparse population and spread across a vast area with an inhospitable terrain. It remains physically isolated for nearly seven months each year when mountain passes are blocked by snow. As a result, the people of Ladakh have developed a distinct regional identity and face unique problems, which are distinct from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir state and India. The people of Ladakh have always demanded full empowerment to allow Ladakhis to plan and pace their own development, equitable growth, and preservation of their unique identity through the participation of all members of Ladakhi society in the decision-making process.
(The author is former Chairman/CEC of LAHDC, Leh)
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