Jairam Ramesh: BJP Denied Ladakh the Healing Touch It Desperately Needs
The Congress has accused the BJP of betraying the people of Ladakh by failing to grant Sixth Schedule status, a long-standing demand meant to safeguard the region’s cultural and land rights. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, speaking ahead of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa’s visit to India, said that Ladakh continues to wait for the “healing touch” it was promised after the region was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019. Ramesh alleged that the BJP government has consistently ignored the aspirations of the people, including those of tribal communities, who fear losing their identity and resources without constitutional protection. The Sixth Schedule, which provides for autonomous councils in tribal areas, was assured but never implemented. The Congress has reiterated its support for the demand, calling on the Centre to honour its commitments and engage with Ladakh’s civil society and local leaders meaningfully.
