Srinagar: The two Autonomous Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil, seeking “complete autonomy” from Kashmir’s administrative set up, separately passed resolutions demanding separate a division for the Ladakh region, as per a report by Indian Express.
The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, unanimously passed the resolution on December 1, while Kargil passed a similar resolution, signed by all its 29 councillors, on December 6.
On Friday, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of Leh’s LAHDC, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, reported IE, that “we want complete administrative autonomy from Kashmir”.
Namgyal alleged that Ladakh has been “neglected by successive state governments and we want to be free from their administrative hold”, the reprot quoted him as having said.
Ladakh currently is counted as a region under Kashmir division.
Namgyal stated that the over 400 kilometre distance between Leh and J&K’s summer capital Srinagar made it an “impractical” set up for the region and said: “J&K gets funding for three regions — Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. However, Ladakh has to constantly fight for resources from Kashmir. For example the Centre approved Rs 50 crore for Pashmina Development last year, we are yet to see those funds.”
In a special General Council meeting, the LAHDC Leh also passed the resolution put forth by councillor Phunchok Dorjey stating, “The region has remained backward in terms of education, development and in all other fields. The problems of the region have never been addressed till date with the present set up, and for the equal and even development of the region, a separate division be created,” the report by IE stated.
Members of the two councils also separately met J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik and his advisors in Jammu to put forth the demand for a separate administrative division for the region, the report stated.
Taking exception to former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s remarks seeking separate administrative divisions for Pir Panjal region and Chenab Valley, Namgyal said she is creating a “hurdle” in the realisation of the the aspirations of the people of Ladakh, the report by IE said.
Mehbooba on Friday demanded divisional status for Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions, earlier having questioned the governor for what she called “encroaching upon democratic space” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to reports that the governor’s administration was going to accord a divisional status to Ladakh, Mehbooba said her party is not opposing it. But, she said, “We request the governor to approve a similar decision for Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley as well”.
(With inputs from Indian Express)
