LEH, June 3: The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development
Council (LAHDC) has demanded that Ladakh be given special status within
J&K. Ladakhis, a distinct ethnic minority fear threat to their
identity if outsiders continue to have rights of ownership in Ladakh. They
want a special status, where the ownership rights would be restricted only
to Ladakhis.
LAHDC Chairman Thupstan Chewang told reporters at
the end of the three-day seventh Sindhu Darshan Festival, "No body in
the state should be allowed to exploit the provisions of Article 370 of
the constitution. If outsiders can't buy land in J&K, why should
Kashmiris have the right to purchase property in Ladakh, which has its own
distinct culture? Provisions of Article 370 should be applicable within
the state as well".
Mr Chewang reiterated that Union Territory status
to the region was desirable for its overall social and economic
development. He observed ideally Article 370 should be abolished and the
state should be brought in the mainstream. "We should also be
integrated with the rest of the country", he added. About the demand
of granting of UT status to Ladakh, Mr Chewang said being in J&K, Leh
is treated like a district only and plan allocation is done accordingly,
though its size is as big as a state. The situation would change with
granting of UT status. LAHDC chairman remarked that Ladakhis elected two
MLAs unopposed on the demand of Union territory.
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