Ladakh in turmoil: Centre must thwart attempts to derail talks

LADAKH’s long-preserved, much-cherished peace has been shattered by bloodshed and arson. Protests over key demands — statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule — spiralled out of control on Wednesday. Four persons lost their lives in clashes between protestors and police personnel in Leh, leading to the imposition of curfew. The developments are all the more disturbing as the Centre’s representatives are in the middle of negotiations with influential groups from the UT. The violence has forced renowned Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk to cut short his hunger strike. In an attempt to soothe frayed tempers, he has asserted that “we do not want instability in Ladakh and the country”.

Bordering China, Ladakh is central to India’s strategic interests along the Line of Actual Control. Therefore, the Union government needs to handle the volatile situation with sensitivity. The gambit of accusing Wangchuk, who has a sizeable support base, of inciting the mob with ‘provocative’ statements may backfire. A thorough probe must be conducted to find out whether the violence was spontaneous or orchestrated. The BJP is pointing a finger at the Congress, while the police have not ruled out the role of the ‘foreign hand’. However, wild speculation and misinformation should be countered strongly by the authorities. Also, any attempt to discredit the Ladakhi agitation or derail ongoing talks must be thwarted.

It was only a few months ago that new reservation and domicile policies were announced for the tourism-dependent region. The Centre’s immediate priorities should be to restore normalcy and take a call on extending the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. This Schedule, currently applicable to the tribal population of Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam, has special provisions for governance and financial powers. Statehood for Ladakh is not feasible right now as a similar demand by neighbouring J&K is hanging fire. The Centre must continue to engage with Ladakhis and do its utmost for their welfare.