With what demands is Sonam Wangchuk fasting in Ladakh?
The fast of famous environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk of Union Territory Ladakh, demanding full statehood and implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, is about to complete two weeks.
After talks in this direction failed with the central government, Wangchuk started his fast on March 6. For this, he has chosen Nawang Dorje Memorial Park in Leh.
Despite the biting cold and sub-zero temperatures, the number of people taking part in their demonstration is continuously increasing.
On February 3, a big demonstration was held in Leh in extreme cold demanding implementation of the Sixth Schedule, in which thousands of people participated and expressed their anger against the Central Government.
Complaints of people of Ladakh
Before becoming a Union Territory, people of Ladakh could apply for gazetted posts in the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, but now this process has stopped.
Before the year 2019, the Jammu Kashmir Service Selection Board used to recruit for non-gazetted jobs, and candidates from Ladakh were also included in it. But now these appointments are being made by the Staff Selection Commission.
This commission is a constitutional body that makes recruitment for the central government. Since the creation of a separate Union Territory, no non-gazetted recruitment campaign for jobs has been conducted on a large scale in Ladakh, due to which the youth of Ladakh are angry.
The Ladakh administration said in its official statement in October 2023 that the process of recruitment is going on in the Union Territory.
The people of Ladakh were hoping that along with becoming a Union Territory, Ladakh would also be given a legislature and security under the Sixth Schedule.
The BJP, in its election manifesto for 2019 and also in the Ladakh Hill Council elections last year, had promised to include Ladakh in statehood and the Sixth Schedule.
People allege that the BJP is going back on these promises, and this dissatisfaction has taken the form of a demonstration.
The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 of the Indian Constitution provides for the formation of autonomous district councils into autonomous administrative divisions having certain legislative, judicial, and administrative independence within a state.
There are a total of 30 members in district councils. Four members are appointed by the governor.
According to the Sixth Schedule, industries can be set up in the area only with the permission of the District Council.
In an interview given to PTI in September last year, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh GD Mishra said that after making Ladakh a Union Territory, there has been a big change in the field of development.
political accusations
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also supported the demands of Ladakh leaders for full statehood and the Sixth Schedule on Wednesday and said that it is the responsibility of the government to fulfill these demands.
Whereas BJP leaders in Ladakh say that the way things are being presented is not true. He also says that it is the BJP that has made Ladakh a Union Territory.
In February, BJP spokesperson in Ladakh Piti Kungjang told the BBC that after becoming a Union Territory, now every work is slowly being completed in Ladakh and work is going on on many issues.
He says, “As far as the demand for giving statehood to Ladakh is concerned, it is not possible right now. To become a state, we should have our own resources. We will not have to depend on the central government for everything. I think in the future, it can become a state in a few years. As far as the sixth schedule is concerned, we have worked a lot on it.
Piti Kungjang says, “We have carried out raids even in places where the Sixth Schedule is applicable. If we get a sixth schedule like that, then there is a need to think again about it.
When asked why the government does not do anything about unemployment here,?
He says, “Since Ladakh became a Union Territory, till now, three and a half thousand non-gazetted jobs have been given. About two and a half thousand outsourcing as well as contractual jobs have also been given. This means that we have given about six thousand jobs. Are.”
“Now another issue is filling gazetted posts. Work on it is going on. The administration here has written to the central government about this. Our MP has also told the government several times that this matter will be resolved very soon. will be.”