Even as the face-off between India and China over the Ladakh incursions by Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to make news, the National Conference and the Congress have turned a blind eye towards the grave issue and instead indulged in petty politics.
For nearly two decades now, the Autonomous Hill Council has been working in the region apparently to ensure accountability in the district administration.
Initially, the establishment of the council was viewed with much skepticism in Kargil. And the people of the district apprehended that the council was established as a prelude to hive off the Ladakh region from J&K to make it a Union Territory.
The people of Kargil have always opposed the idea of separating the region from Kashmir Valley. However, once the fears were allayed, Kargil became receptive to the establishment of such a Council (Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council) and it was set up in July 2003.
Previously, the NC had 18 representatives while the Congress had eight in the 26-member House. But in the recent polls, the NC’s strength was reduced to just eight whereas the Congress’ tally went up to 10. Both the parties, however, managed to secure the support of four Independents each, which took the tally of the Congress to 14 and NC to 12.
Due to its negative experience in the past, the Congress is currently in no mood to share power with the NC. The forthcoming polls have got the Congress all charged up to nurture the dream of securing a majority in the Council on its own.
The Congress plans suffered a setback when it failed to secure majority in the Council. But Omar Abdullah ditched the Congress and nominated all the four members from the NC. This gave the NC an edge and blocked the avenues of the Congress to run the Council despite securing majority.
Accusing Omar of “backstabing”, the Congress demanded the withdrawal of “deceitful” nominations.