Ladakh Leaders, Including BJP, Demand Statehood, Seek Meeting With PM Modi

This is the first time leadership from Muslim majority Kargil and Buddhist-dominated Leh has arrived at a consensus for their political future.

Leaders cutting across political parties in Ladakh have joined hands demanding restoration of full statehood for the region and rights like the ones guaranteed under Article 370 ahead of the second anniversary of the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The leadership of both Leh and Kargil districts, including BJP-led Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council, has also rejected domicile for Ladakh region and asked for Permanent Resident certificate for people on the lines of state subject law in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the first time leadership from Muslim majority Kargil and Buddhist-dominated Leh has arrived at a consensus for their political future. Chairman of the Leh autonomous Counci Tashi Gyaltson of BJP and Feroz Khan chairman of Kargil autonomous council attended the meeting on Sunday. Ironically, the Leh autonomous Hill Council ruled by BJP had celebrated the centre's August 5, 2019 decision to scrap J&K's special status.