Hill Blockade

This October, the Ladakh for Union Territory Front (LUTF) swept the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council, winning 24 out of 26 seats. Earlier, in the LS elections, an ex-Congress MP and original LUTF member won handsomely on the agenda of getting UT status for Ladakh region. Buoyed by its success, the lutf’s next move is a demand to be included in the ongoing Kashmir talks. Leaders feel the Ladakh council, set up in ’95, isn’t enough and they want an overwhelming mandate for a clean break from J&K, who they feel have never understood Ladakhis and their problems. Post 9/11, the Buddhist population of Ladakh is also feeling a bit insecure. "We don’t want the Hurriyat leaders to discuss our fate with the government. We want a say," says an LUTF leader.