Kargil ignored in first Ladakh tableau: chief of Hill Council

Old faultlines between Buddhist Ladakh and Muslim Kargil have emerged within the Republic Day tableau of the brand new Union Territory of Ladakh.
The first tableau of Ladakh will depict the Thiksey Monastery in Leh and the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, and Kargil feels ignored.
Feroz Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, has written to Lt Governor R Ok Mathur protesting that “cultural and religious symbols” of Kargil have been ignored.
“It is unfortunate to note that a singular aspect of Ladakh has been incorporated for display on the UT Ladakh tableau during Republic Day, thereby failing to showcase the rich and diverse religio-cultural fabric of Ladakh,” Khan has written. “It is felt that (the) partial visual representation of the UT at an event as prominent as the National Republic Day celebrations alienates the people of Kargil district.”
Khan has requested that the tableau be modified: “LAHDC Kargil wishes to request you to kindly pass necessary directions to the concerned for incorporation of religious/heritage sites and cultural ethos of Kargil district in the UT Ladakh tabeau.”
Khan informed The Indian Express that the administration didn’t seek the advice of the individuals of Kargil earlier than finalising the tableau. “Ladakh is not only Leh, it also includes Kargil, and there are other distinctions within Leh and Kargil,” he mentioned. “We feel sad at being ignored. There were many important religious and cultural sites in Kargil which could have been displayed, but they didn’t consult anyone – not even the elected representatives like us.”
Sajad Hussain, a distinguished social and political activist of Kargil, mentioned the tableau displays the way in which the BJP thinks about Ladakh.
“It is very unfortunate that Kargil has been completely ignored… Kargil has been the battleground during the Kargil war. They could have showcased any of the war symbols like Tiger Hills, Tololing. This (tableau) reflects the binary through which the BJP looks at Ladakh,” he mentioned.
The UT of Ladakh was created after the constitutional adjustments of August 5, 2019, by which Jammu and Kashmir’s particular standing was abrogated, and the state was downgraded to 2 UTs. While a separate UT was all the time the demand of the individuals of Leh, the individuals of Kargil have voiced issues over alleged discrimination. Ladakh is Buddhist majority, whereas Kargil is Muslim majority.