Dr. Karan Singh voices concern over Ladakh unrest, urges constitutional safeguards

Leh, Sept 25: Dr. Karan Singh, senior statesman and former Sadr-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir, has expressed deep concern over the recent unrest in Ladakh, which has led to the death of four people and injuries to dozens. In a statement issued on Thursday, he said the situation has left him disturbed and called for urgent attention to the aspirations of Ladakh’s youth.

Dr. Singh noted that since 1947, the people of Ladakh have been firmly pro-India and have consistently extended support to the security forces whenever required. However, he observed that the younger generation is now growing resentful, particularly due to diminishing employment opportunities. He pointed out that the absence of a Public Service Commission in Ladakh forces the youth to compete at the national level, which has created a sense of disadvantage.

“Inclusion in something like the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution seems to be an eminently reasonable solution,” Dr. Singh suggested, stressing the need for safeguards that would address local aspirations.

Appealing to the government, Dr. Singh urged authorities to carefully consider the demands of the youth and take concrete measures, including constitutional provisions, to meet their concerns. He warned that failure to do so could lead to a deepening of the agitation, with serious security implications in the long run.

At the same time, he appealed to the people of Ladakh to remain calm and peacefully articulate their demands rather than resort to unrest.

“I would appeal to authorities to carefully consider the demands of the youth and see what concrete measures can be taken to meet their aspirations. This is very important to prevent the agitation from growing, which in the long run will have negative security implications,” Dr. Singh stated.

The appeal from Dr. Singh comes amid escalating tensions in Ladakh, where locals have been voicing discontent over constitutional safeguards and job opportunities since the region was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019. [KNT]