Leh Apex Body faces public pushback as draft seeking statehood for Ladakh goes to debate

SRINAGAR: Debate over Ladakh’s campaign for statehood and Sixth Schedule status sharpened Wednesday when Leh Apex Body presented its draft to the public in Leh, drawing pushback from participants who questioned whether the region with a small population of 300,000 and limited revenue base could sustain itself as a state. LAB, a coalition of political and religious groups leading the agitation for greater constitutional protections, had presented its draft proposal to the Union home ministry’s high-powered committee a month ago. LAB president Chering Dorjay said the “majority of people” want statehood and Sixth Schedule status — a constitutional provision that grants tribal areas autonomy through district councils empowered over land, resources, and local governance. He said the public