A new controversy has erupted from leh region of Jammu & Kashmir after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expelled a senior party leader for signing a memorandum seeking Union Territory (UT) status for ladakh. The memorandum was submitted to Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to the area. The Opposition National Conference (NC) has also issued show-cause notice to its district president for signing the memorandum.
The political and religious groups in leh are seeking UT status to end the region’s allegiance with J&K. The Muslim majority Kargil district, which forms half of ladakh region, is opposed to the creation of ladakh UT. During the current unrest in Kashmir, the people and political leadership in Kargil exhibited support to Kashmir. Both districts are governed by separate ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. While the Buddhist dominated leh demands separation from the State, the Kargil region is not inclined to support the UT demand.
On Tuesday, the ruling PDP expelled Tashi Gayalson, district president leh, from the basic membership of the party. In a statement, party spokesman said the head of the party’s disciplinary committee Abdul Rehman Veeri took the decision against Gayalson for violating the party’s whip. “Mr Gayalson signed the memorandum demanding union territory status for ladakh which is against the policies of the PDP. That is why he has been expelled,” Veeri said.
The spokesman said the PDP believes in unity of the state and any move which aims at dividing it on regional and religious lines would only be an unfortunate development, and the party under no circumstances can endorse any such divisive move. “People of different faiths, ethnicity and languages live cordially in J&K since ages. The opposition NC also issued a show-cause notice to its district president in leh Sonam Wangdus for explaining his position to the party on signing a memorandum submitted to the Union Home Minister.
“Sonam Wangdus has been asked to explain his position within 72 hours, failing which disciplinary action will be initiated against him. The NC will always stand for the unity and integrity of Jammu & Kashmir”, party general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
The BJP and Congress, two most influential parties in leh region are favouring union territory status for ladakh region. However, the parties complain that the BJP, despite its poll promises, failed to move forward on according the status to the region.