A statement by a Cabinet Minister in Omar Abdullah's government, Javod Ahmed Rana, has triggered a fresh debate, with Buddhist leaders strongly opposing his prediction regarding the re-merger of Ladakh with Jammu and Kashmir.
Within minutes of Rana's assertion that Ladakh would again become part of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) chief and co-convenor of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Chering Dorjay Lakrook, categorically rejected the claim, saying there was no question of Ladakh re-merging with Jammu and Kashmir.
"Not at any cost, no way. No one in Ladakh, especially in Leh, is ready to become part of Jammu and Kashmir again," Lakrook, a former minister in the PDP-BJP government, told The International Business Times. He asserted that the question of re-merger does not arise as the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is now a reality.
"Ladakhis have a separate identity, and we must preserve our distinct identity and culture," he said, adding, "We are agitating to safeguard our identity, ethos, and cultural heritage."
Responding to statements by some leaders from Kargil, particularly those associated with the National Conference, advocating closer affiliation with Kashmir, the LBA chief said, "Let the people of Kargil decide their future with Jammu and Kashmir. As far as Leh is concerned, all citizens are united against the re-merger of this region with Jammu and Kashmir."
Lakrook further said that various groups in Ladakh have already launched a mass movement in support of their key demands, including statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, job security, constitutional safeguards, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil.
NC Minister Predicts Ladakh's Re-merger with J&K
It is pertinent to mention that Cabinet Minister Javid Rana on Tuesday claimed that the days were not far off when Ladakh would once again become part of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that a united Jammu and Kashmir was inevitable.
Speaking to reporters, Rana said the Government of India would eventually have no option but to restore a unified Jammu and Kashmir. He dismissed claims made by a BJP MLA suggesting that Jammu could be carved out as a separate state, describing such assertions as imaginary and misleading.
Rana further stated that no demand for a separate Jammu state had emerged from the Pir Panjal or Chenab regions. He maintained that people from these areas continue to identify with a united Jammu and Kashmir and have not sought bifurcation.
Highlighting the historical context, the minister said Jammu and Kashmir was once a full-fledged state, parts of which were later occupied by Pakistan and China, while Ladakh was subsequently separated. He expressed confidence that the political situation would change and that Ladakh would eventually rejoin Jammu and Kashmir.
He added that history and ground realities cannot be altered permanently and asserted that the aspiration for unity among the people would ultimately prevail.
