Against the backdrop of ongoing struggle for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh region under Sixth Schedule, various trade, tourism and religious groups have warned to launch a “non-cooperation movement” after July 15 against non-local business tycoons and industrialists willing to make big investments in the Union Territory.
Under the banner of the Ladakh Tourist Trade Alliance (LTTA), these groups have also cautioned the “outsiders” to cease funding projects in Ladakh and it would not allow any project to be executed in partnership or constructed by an “outsider” (a non-resident of Ladakh region) after the stipulated time of July 15.
“Tourism industry is the backdrop of Ladakh region and around 90 percent of locals depend on it. It is the only industry which is left with Ladakhi people to have means of their livelihood. No investment to be made by any outsiders (non-local) is acceptable to Ladakhi people. We appeal to all those who have leased out their properties or are intending to enter into any partnership with any non-local businessmen that they should refrain from doing so,” PT Kunzang, LTTA president told KIF.
“Our religious bodies had set a two-month deadline for the outsiders to cease funding projects in Ladakh. The deadline will be over by July 15. We want to make it clear that those who have leased out their properties or intend to run any sort of business in partnership will not be allowed to ruin our only source of income,” he cautioned.
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“After July 15, we will launch a non-cooperation movement against all those intending to set business in Ladakh and they will be opposed with full force,” Kunzang said, adding “The people should not take it as local versus non-local but we cannot allow anyone to snatch our bread and butter. Tourism is the only source of income for Ladakhi people”.
The LTTA president also warned a prominent hotelier, Kapil Chopra to stop construction of Postcard hotel in Ladakh, saying “only locals of Ladakh will be allowed to establish business in the territory”.
“Kapil Chopra is a big name in the hotel industry having hotels in three to four international cities, but we would like to warn him to stop construction forthwith. We would also like to warn all those having leased out their land to Chopra or intend to be his partners to cease their plans as LTTA will not allow any construction in Ladakh,” he said.
Kunzang said Ladakh was among the top ten tourist destinations in the world and it attained this achievement because of the hard work of local people. “We cannot allow anyone to snatch the livelihood of local people. We have the full support of all Ladakhi people, religious and political organisations and any attempt of an outsider to take control of the tourism industry of Ladakh will be fought tooth and nail,” he said.
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Pertinently, Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had a meeting with the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai last month and sought, inter-alia, Statehood status and Constitutional Safeguards under Sixth Schedule for the region.
The LAB representatives have declared that the ball was in the court of union home ministry, saying they briefed them (MHA) that their four-point agenda should be part of the talks. Further, the LAB and KDA members in the High Powered Committee (HPC) should be decided in consultations with them.
The major demands of Ladakhi representatives include statehood for the Union territory of Ladakh, constitutional safeguard under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, formation of Public Service Commission and reservation of jobs for youth of Ladakh, and creation of two separate parliamentary constituencies for Leh and Kargil.
