Ladakh-Lahaul merger demand draws flak

Tribune News Service

Mandi, September 29

Ravi Thakur, ex-MLA of Lahaul-Spiti and former vice-president of the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes, opposed the proposal of the Buddhist Society, Ladakh, to merge Lahaul-Spiti with Ladakh.

He said, “Residents of Lahaul-Spiti have requested the Centre to declare it an autonomous district council and accord it the status of Scheduled Tribe-6. We are not in favour of including Lahaul-Spiti in the UT because it is not feasible.”

The reason cited was that in Lahaul-Spiti, most people were Buddhists and there was similarity in the culture.

“However the merger of Lahaul-Spiti with Ladakh is impractical because Darcha, the last village of Lahaul, is 250 km away from Upshi village, the last village of Ladakh. The Centre can merge the Zanskar valley with Lahaul-Spiti because the people of the valley have direct access to Lahaul via Shinku La,” he said.

Ravi Thakur said before taking any decision, the Centre should take opinion of Lahaul-Spiti residents. Home Minister Amit Shah was expected to make an announcement over the declaration of Ladakh as UT the next month.