Ladakh people suspended their protests on Sunday against the local body’s elections after the Center assured them that all problems related to the region’s language, demographics, ethnicity and jobs will be resolved.
The Center has said that it is open to including Ladakh in the Sixth Annex of the Constitution, which will give the autonomous districts and the council a certain degree of autonomy in making laws to protect the interests of indigenous peoples.
“The Government of India is open to discussing the protection available under the Sixth Annex of the Constitution of India while investigating issues related to the people of Ladakh,” said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
“After 15 days of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, we will start the process to consider your claim,” he added.
A delegation led by MoS G Kishan Reddy will visit Ladakh to discuss the matter further. After the government guarantee, the leaders of the region agreed to withdraw their protests against the upcoming elections of the Ladakh Autonomous Development Council (LAHDC).
“The delegation agreed to withdraw its call for a boycott of the next elections. The Interior Minister assured the delegation that the Government of India is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Ladakh people, ”Rijiju said.
LAHDC elections are scheduled for October 16. Prominent leaders and monks of the region boycotted the ballot boxes that demanded constitutional guarantees for indigenous inhabitants by including the region in the Sixth Annex of the Constitution.
The leaders had argued that without any constitutional safeguards, the identity of the Ladakh region will be seriously threatened by outsiders.
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