Assembly grants more autonomy to Ladakh region

The Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Thursday passed a bill to provide for the establishment of autonomous hill development councils and an inter-district advisory council in the Ladakh region.

State Law Minister P L Handoo said the decentralisation of power would give a boost to developmental activities in Ladakh.

The Bill, which was passed by voice vote, replaces the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1995.

The new bill was introduced in the assembly by the National Conference's Mushtaq Ahmad Lone and Khalid Najib Suharwardy on August 28. It was then referred to a select committee which recommended it be passed in its original form.

Presenting the select committee report, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said setting up of councils will involve a Rs 599.4 million expenditure.

Dilawar Mir, the assembly's lone Janata Dal member, asked why the ruling NC -- which has two-thirds majority in the House -- was not moving a resolution for greater autonomy.

''Though I am not opposed to autonomous hill development councils," Mir argued, "why cannot we pass a bill to restore the 1953 position in the state?"

''Dr Abdullah," Mir continued, "Do not be afraid you will be thrown out of power (by the Centre) if you pass the bill. We are all with you.''

The chief minister said he was not afraid of the Centre or anybody else. "I was elected by the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,'' he said, "It is due to the dirty politics of the leaders in New Delhi we have to pass this Bill.''

UNI