In the midst of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike advocating for statehood for the Union Territory of Ladakh, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh voiced his stance on Thursday, decrying what he termed as the populace of Ladakh’s resounding disapproval of Modi Sarkar’s autocratic governance.
Expressing his sentiments on X, Jairam remarked that with the Prime Minister abstaining from his Bhutan escapade today, it’s hoped that he’ll allocate some attention to the Ladakh issue.
“Since the third of February, when Ladakh was completely paralyzed by indigenous residents, there has been widespread dissent against Modi Sarkar’s overbearing bureaucratic dominance, effectively undermining local democratic institutions. The valiant environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk has brought the plight of Ladakh’s inhabitants to national and international prominence,” he articulated on X.
Furthermore, the Congress luminary underscored the Ladakh residents’ plea, a pledge which he asserts the BJP had made in their manifesto during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2020 Ladakh Hill Council Polls.
“The people of Ladakh are clamoring for constitutional protections for the Union Territory, including statehood and incorporation into the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Curiously, the BJP had pledged Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule in their manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections and the 2020 Ladakh Hill Council Polls. Does the Prime Minister harbor any intention of honoring his ‘Modi ki guarantee?’ If not, why make the promise in the first place? A decade after assuming office, why does this matter remain unresolved?” queried Jairam.
He highlighted that on August 5th, 2019, by redesignating Ladakh as a distinct Union Territory sans a legislative assembly, Modi Sarkar dashed any hopes of self-governance for the Ladakhi populace. “What vision did the Prime Minister have for Ladakh when he delineated it as a separate Union Territory? Were the inhabitants of Ladakh ever consulted during the formulation of this vision?” he pondered.
Furthermore, the Congress general secretary alleged that under Prime Minister Modi’s stewardship, India relinquished prime grazing lands in the Changthang plains in northern Ladakh to Chinese incursions. Aside from being a national security crisis, this poses a significant socioeconomic dilemma for the nomads of Ladakh.
“The Prime Minister, however, absolved China of any wrongdoing on June 19th, 2020, during the all-party meeting on China, asserting that not a single Chinese soldier had trespassed into Indian territory. Two possibilities linger: either the Ladakhis fabricated their claims of Chinese PLA encroachment on their lands, or the Prime Minister of India misled the nation when he exonerated China,” he added.
Jairam Ramesh further drew attention to the proposed Ladakh Industrial Land Allotment Policy 2023, which advocates for single-window clearance committees comprising solely government officials and an industry representative—devoid of Council members, civil society groups, or panchayat representatives.
“The document fails to delineate environmental or cultural criteria for evaluating industrial projects, nor does it facilitate any public consultation. In a fragile ecosystem like Ladakh, inhabited by nomadic tribes and other vulnerable demographic groups, what is the ulterior motive behind this proposed Land Allotment Policy? Is it yet another endeavor by the Prime Minister to appease his industrialist associates at the expense of the populace?” queried Jairam Ramesh.
