As Amit Shah visits Ladakh, Congress criticises his ‘silence’ on statehood demand

The Congress on Friday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his visit to Ladakh, accusing him of ignoring residents’ calls for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution while “basking in the glory of the Piprahwa relics”.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Shah of “remaining silent on the demands of the people there for Statehood, Sixth Schedule status, and protection of land and employment”.

The home minister arrived in Ladakh on Thursday for a two-day visit to view the holy relics of Lord Buddha. This marks his first visit to the Union Territory since protests erupted in September, in which four protesters were killed in police firing.

Ladakh is hosting a two-week long exposition of the holy relics starting on Friday, which is Buddh Purnima. This is reportedly the first time that the relics have been taken out from their permanent location for an exhibition within the country.

Statehood demand

In August 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into two Union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The lack of a legislature in Ladakh has stoked fears among the Ladakhi people over their land, natural resources and livelihoods. They also fear the region’s cultural identity and fragile...

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