‘August 5 was a day of betrayal for Ladakh’: Sajjad Kargili renews call for constitutional safeguards

HABEEL SAGAR

KARGIL: Marking seven years since the abrogation of Article 370 and the creation of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) Co-Chairman Sajjad Kargili launched a strong critique of the Union Territory administration and the Centre, describing August 5 as “a day of betrayal” for the people of Ladakh and alleging that the promises made at the time of the UT’s formation remain unfulfilled.

In an exclusive interview with The Earth News, Kargili claimed that while Ladakh was promised empowerment and protection of its identity following its separation from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the past seven years have instead witnessed increasing bureaucratic control, weakening of democratic institutions and policy decisions taken without public consultation.

Referring to the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, Kargili argued that the decision was imposed without consulting the people and said many expectations generated during the transition to Union Territory status have not materialised. He maintained that Ladakh has witnessed repeated public protests over issues relating to governance, representation and constitutional safeguards.

The KDA leader expressed concern over what he described as the absence of key democratic institutions, including a Public Service Commission, and alleged delays in restoring representative governance. He also raised concerns over increasing unemployment, climate-related challenges and what he termed the lack of a comprehensive policy framework to address Ladakh’s long-term developmental needs.

Kargili said that, despite initial differences in public opinion between Leh and Kargil over the creation of the Union Territory, the two regions today face similar governance challenges. He noted that the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) are jointly pursuing constitutional safeguards and a long-term political solution for Ladakh.

He accused the government of adopting delaying tactics in its dialogue with Ladakh’s leadership and alleged that the ongoing engagement process has not produced concrete outcomes. According to Kargili, issues concerning political empowerment, constitutional safeguards and the future governance structure of the Union Territory require urgent attention.

The KDA Co-Chairman also criticised several recent administrative decisions, including the UT’s excise policy, alleging that important policy matters were introduced without adequate consultation with local stakeholders and religious representatives. He further alleged discrimination against Kargil in certain administrative decisions and questioned the consultation process followed by the administration while framing public policies.

On the issue of development, Kargili argued that economic growth and democratic governance must go hand in hand. He maintained that sustainable development cannot be achieved without representative institutions and local participation in policymaking, alleging that many decisions affecting Ladakh are currently taken without sufficient involvement of local stakeholders.

Reiterating KDA’s long-standing demands, Kargili said the people of Ladakh continue to seek constitutional safeguards, including protection under the Sixth Schedule and restoration of statehood. He also criticised what he described as delays in advancing discussions on the proposed legislative framework for the Union Territory and alleged that the dialogue process had been derailed.

The KDA leader further called for accountability in connection with the violence of September 24 last year, demanding that the judicial inquiry report be made public and that responsibility be fixed for the deaths of four people during the incident. He argued that administrative reshuffles alone cannot substitute for accountability and urged the government to ensure transparency in the investigation.

Kargili also raised concerns over unemployment, claiming that the crisis among Ladakh’s youth continues to deepen. He appealed to the Central Government to closely monitor the implementation of policies in the Union Territory and suggested the formation of an oversight mechanism to review governance and ensure accountability.

Concluding the interview, Kargili urged the Union Territory Administration and the Government of India to engage more meaningfully with the people of Ladakh, resolve outstanding political issues through dialogue and ensure that future policies are framed through consultation with local stakeholders.