Ladakh clinches deal with Centre in 7 years, J&K parties say it took 70 and still failed

Srinagar: J&K parties on Sunday praised the representatives of Ladakh for 'clinching' a deal with the Centre, lamenting that the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to do this for over 70 years.

The members of Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance - who are striving for statehood and inclusion of Ladakh into the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution - on Friday informed that they had reached an in-principle understanding with the Centre on providing constitutional safeguards on the lines of Article 371(A), 371(F) and 371(G), as applicable to Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram. The political parties in J&K are demanding restoration of statehood and Article 370, abrogated by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

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National Conference's Lok Sabha MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said that the success of the representatives of Ladakh is "a slap on the face of J&K leadership ". He further stated that "people's aspirations cannot be addressed through silence, but through political resolve and honest representation... People of J&K gave a clear mandate for these rights. The question is: When will that mandate be used for what it was truly given?"

NC spokesman Imran Dar, however, contradicted his party colleague, stating that BJP's "agenda was, is and perhaps will remain the same. Ruling Kashmir from New Delhi".

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PDP MLA Waheed Para said what Ladakh achieved in seven years, J&K failed to achieve in 70. "A population of barely 3 lakh persuaded the Government of India, J&K couldn't. There's a lesson for J&K."