KDA leader slams govt for amending hill council act without involving stakeholders amid Ladakh talks

Leh, Oct 19:
Even as Ladakh awaited a democratically elected government with legislature and talks are on with the ministry of home affairs, Sajjad Hussain Kargili, leader of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has raised questions over introducing amendments to the LAHDC Act in Ladakh without involving the stakeholders–the people of the Himalayan region.
In a long post on X, Kargili wrote, “At a time when talks are ongoing to negotiate a settlement for Ladakh, including demands for constitutional status and stronger protections for the #LAHDCs, it is deeply problematic that the government has chosen to make substantial changes to the composition, powers and functioning of these Councils without consulting the people and stakeholders of Ladakh. These changes directly affect the institutions through which local self-government is exercised, making consultation especially important when the future of Ladakh’s political and constitutional arrangements remains under discussion.”
He further said that the government is effectively changing the institutional framework that these negotiations are meant to address, while giving the Union Territory Administration greater control over the composition and functioning of the Councils.
“This raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to the ongoing dialogue and whether the eventual settlement will secure meaningful autonomy for Ladakh or leave its representative institutions subject to executive discretion,” he added.
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