VBL urges MHA to set up District Councils before any new political framework

Memorandum criticises KDA and Leh Apex Body for opposing proposal, says they cannot speak for newly created districts

LEH: Amid the ongoing discussions over Ladakh’s constitutional and political future, the Voice of Buddhist Ladakh (VBL) has submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the Centre to establish democratically elected District Councils in all seven districts of the Union Territory before introducing any new political framework.

In the memorandum, Convenor of VBL Skarma Namtak expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, ensure inclusive governance, provide constitutional safeguards and create employment opportunities in Ladakh.

However, he strongly criticised the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for rejecting the Centre’s reported proposal to establish District Councils in all seven districts and also condemned the Leh Apex Body (LAB) for supporting KDA’s stand.

VBL asserted that neither KDA nor LAB has the mandate to reject the democratic rights of the newly created districts. It maintained that while both organisations are free to take decisions concerning their respective districts, they cannot claim to represent the interests of other districts without equal participation and representation from those regions.

The memorandum argued that opposing the establishment of District Councils undermines the democratic aspirations of residents in the newly created districts, who deserve equal opportunities for political representation and participation in local governance.

According to VBL, the creation of new districts was intended to decentralise governance and bring administration closer to the people. However, it said that without elected District Councils, the people of these districts continue to lack an institutional platform to address developmental, administrative and public welfare issues.

Calling the establishment of District Councils a vital step towards strengthening grassroots democracy, VBL said such institutions would ensure balanced regional development and equitable political representation across Ladakh. It further argued that District Councils should serve as the foundation of governance before any Union Territory-level legislative body or other political arrangement is introduced.

The memorandum placed three key demands before the Ministry of Home Affairs: immediate establishment of democratically elected District Councils in all seven districts; equal constitutional and administrative representation for every district through these councils; and making the District Councils the foundational democratic institution before implementing any broader political framework in Ladakh.

Appealing for favourable consideration, VBL said its demands were aimed at promoting justice, equality and democratic governance in the Union Territory.