Ladakh has been demanding its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule ever since it became a Union Territory.
Rahul Gandhi Urges PM Modi to Restore Statehood to J&K, Include Ladakh Under Sixth Schedule Latest News – Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to “bring forward the legislation” to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, ANI reported.
Rahul Gandhi also requested the inclusion of the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“We urge upon the government to bring forward legislation in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” Rahul Gandhi wrote in the letter to the Prime Minister.
As per the ANI report, the Leader of Opposition also noted that Prime Minister Modi had, on multiple occasions, reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Your good self has, on multiple occasions, personally reiterated the government's commitment to restoring statehood. In your interview in Bhubaneswar on 19 May 2024, you stated: 'The restoration of statehood is a solemn promise we have made and we stand by it.' Again, while addressing a rally in Srinagar on 19 September 2024, you reaffirmed: 'We have said in Parliament that we will restore the region's statehood,'" the Congress MP is quoted as saying in the ANI report.
Rahul Gandhi further stated that this is the first time in Indian history that a state has been downgraded to a Union Territory.
"For the past five years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently called for the restoration of full statehood. This demand is both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights,” he said.
"This is the first time a full-fledged state has been downgraded to a Union Territory following its bifurcation,” he added.
In August 2019, the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi bifurcated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir (with legislative powers) and Ladakh (without legislative powers) — by repealing Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, thus ending the special status granted to the former state.
In his request regarding Ladakh, Rahul Gandhi stated, "We request that the Government bring forward legislation to include the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. This would be a significant step towards addressing the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, while safeguarding their rights, land, and identity."
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides autonomous administrative and governance powers to tribal areas in certain northeastern states of India, to protect the rights, culture, land, and governance of tribal communities, especially in regions where they form a majority. It helps preserve tribal identity, autonomy, and way of life, and aims to prevent exploitation and displacement.
Ladakh has been demanding its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule ever since it became a Union Territory. Mass protests have been held multiple times over the past few years, with environmentalist and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Sonam Wangchuk staging week-long hunger strikes in the region’s freezing temperatures.
He was joined by people across Ladakh — some gathered at the protest location with Wangchuk, while others participated from their respective remote villages.
The demand remains ongoing.
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