VoL Desk, Dec. 13: The recent ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the abrogation of Article 370 has left the leadership in Kargil deeply disappointed. Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai, a seasoned leader and Co-Chairman of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, expressed profound disappointment with the decision.

While acknowledging the Supreme Court’s directive to reinstate statehood and facilitate assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September, Karbalai highlighted the disparity in the treatment of Ladakh. The Court’s validation of the government’s decision on August 5, 2019, which revoked Article 370 and transformed Ladakh into a union territory, has sparked widespread disappointment among the people of Ladakh.

Since the fateful decision in 2019, the residents of Ladakh have been vehemently protesting, viewing it as an injustice that stripped them of their representation, self-governance, and decision-making authority, stated Karbalai.

* Click to Follow Voice of Ladakh on WhatsApp *

Sajjad Hussain Kargili, a member of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, conveyed his respectful disagreement with the Supreme Court’s stance on Article 370. He emphasized that this ruling is unsatisfactory for the people of Ladakh who have persistently protested for their democratic rights over the past four years.

The transition of a state into a Union Territory without consulting its public representatives is considered by many as a challenge to the federal structure of the country. The trend of such decisions, as voiced by Kargili, reflects an unfortunate sidelining of democratic processes and public consultation, posing a challenge to the foundational principles of the nation’s federal system.