Language row heats up in Ladakh ahead of HPC meeting on Jan 15

KDA appeals for calm, asks MHA to refrain from notification on languages without consultations

Jammu: Ahead of the next meeting of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on January 15, a major controversy over demands for official language status has sparked tensions in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) leaders, who went into huddle after strong reservations expressed by certain communities, have requested the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the UT administration of Ladakh to avoid issuing language-related notifications without extensive discussions and consultation with all stakeholders.
In the previous HPC meeting held on December 4, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reportedly “agreed” to declare Bhoti and Urdu as the official languages of Ladakh.
“We urge everyone to remain calm and avoid creating unnecessary tension in the region over the issue of languages. The matter is still under discussion, and no final decision has been made yet. It will be deliberated further in the upcoming MHA meeting scheduled for January 15,” the senior KDA leader, Sajjad Kargili in a post on ‘X’.
He added, “We remain hopeful that both Purgi/Balti and Shina languages will be included in the official language list of Ladakh, ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all communities”.
“The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) strongly requests the MHA and the UT Ladakh admin to refrain from issuing any notification regarding the language issue without conducting thorough discussions and consulting all stakeholders,” he said.
Pertinently, the majority of the population of Ladakh is Scheduled Tribes viz. Balti, Beda, Bot, Brokpa, Changpa, Garra, Mon and Purigpa. The major languages spoken by the people of Ladakh are Ladakhi, Bhoti, Balti, Purgi and Dardi/Sheena.
While Leh district, dominated by Buddhists, advocates for Bhoti’s inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, Shia-majority Kargil district pushes for Sheena’s recognition.
It may be placed here that contentious issues like Statehood to Ladakh and grant of Sixth Schedule for Ladakh are expected to come under discussions during the next meeting of HPC which has been scheduled for January 15. Only Sub Committee members i.e. three each from Leh Apex Body (LAB) and KDA are expected to be called to the next meeting.
In the last meeting of HPC, the MHA agreed to reserve 95 percent of government jobs for Ladakh’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and grant 33 percent reservations for women in Leh and Kargil Hill Councils.
A breakthrough on the Public Services Commission (PSC) was also achieved while it was decided that all ‘A’ Grade posts of Ladakh would be referred by the Union Territory administration to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for exclusive recruitment for Ladakh while a decision on ‘B’ Grade posts would be taken soon and it could be either separate PSC of the UT or the J&K PSC would be the agency to take the exams.

Updated On 1/4/2025 1:13:40 AM