SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para has said that Ladakh has achieved in seven years what Jammu and Kashmir was unable to secure over seven decades, following recent discussions between representatives of Ladakh and the Central government on constitutional safeguards.
In a post on X, Para said the development held lessons for Jammu and Kashmir, following reports that the Centre has proposed constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under Article 371, instead of inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, along with the establishment of a legislative body for the region.
According to representatives from Ladakh, discussions with the Union government remain ongoing and no final agreement has been reached.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk said the Centre had proposed safeguards on the lines of Articles 371A and 371G and had agreed in principle to a governance structure covering the entire region, rather than limiting authority to district-level councils.
Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) member Sajjad Kargili said the proposal also included legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers for Ladakh, and that the Centre had been asked to share a formal draft for detailed consultation with legal and constitutional experts.
Para remarked that a small population of around three lakh in Ladakh had succeeded in persuading the Government of India to consider such arrangements, adding that it reflected a significant contrast with Jammu and Kashmir’s long-standing political experience.
