Ladakh tableau on Republic Day: Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil chairman Feroz Ahmad Khan has accused the administration of ignoring Kargil in its tableau to be displayed on Republic Day. The 1st tableau of the new Union Territory of Ladakh will showcase Thiksey Monastery in Leh and the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle.
Feeling ignored, LAHDC-Kargil chairman Feroz Ahmad Khan has written to Lt Governor RK Mathur saying that the cultural and religious symbols of Kargil have been ignored. In the letter quoted by The Indian Express, Khan says that it is unfortunate to note that a singular aspect of Ladakh has been incorporated for show on the Union Territory of Ladakh tableau throughout Republic Day, thereby failing to showcase the wealthy and diverse religio-cultural fabric of Ladakh.
He also states that it is felt that the partial visual representation of the Union Territory at an occasion as prominent as the Republic Day celebrations alienates the people today of Kargil district. Demanding the tableau be modified, Khan writes that LAHDC Kargil wishes to request you (Lt Governor) to kindly pass needed directions to the concerned for incorporation of religious and heritage websites and cultural ethos of Kargil district in the tableau of Ladakh.
Speaking to IE, the chairman mentioned that the administration did not seek the advice of the people today of Kargil ahead of finalising the tableau. He mentioned Ladakh was not only Leh, it also integrated Kargil, and there had been other distinctions inside Leh and Kargil. Khan mentioned that the people today felt sad at getting ignored as there had been lots of significant religious and cultural websites in Kargil which could have been displayed. “But they didn’t consult anyone – not even the elected representatives like us,” he mentioned.
Another prominent social and political activist, Sajad Hussain, mentioned that the tableau reflected the way the “BJP thinks about Ladakh”. He mentioned It was pretty unfortunate that Kargil had been absolutely ignored. Husaain additional mentioned Kargil had been the battleground throughout the Kargil war and the administration 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 told IE.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — J&K and Ladakh.