By Tsewang Rigzin
Leaders from Leh, cutting across political lines, while acknowledging Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s statesmanship, called his demise a big loss to the State. They took out a peace march on Thursday in Leh to pay homage to the departed leader. President PDP Leh Advocate Tashi Gyaltsan said he was shocked and grieved to learn the untimely demise of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.
Ladakh will remember Mufti Sayeed for his role in empowering Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil by giving substantial powers. In less than two months in power, Mufti led Government in 2002 empowered LAHDC Leh giving it a ‘rightful status’ and also decided to constitute maiden Hill Council for Kargil.
The Hill Council Leh was first formed during the Governor’s rule in 1995 but when popular government of NC led by Dr Farooq Abdullah came to power in 1996, it had serious reservation to pass the LAHDC Act in the Assembly. However it had to pass LAHDC Act 1997 unwillingly owing to immense pressure it faced from the region as leadership of Ladakh then was known for its unity. The State Government, however, did not give its due powers to the Hill Council and as a result of which the first Hill Council of Leh and State Government remained at loggerheads for the full tenure of Dr Farooq Abdullah led regime.
In October 2002, an important change of guard took place at the State as Mufti Mohammed Sayeed took over as the Chief Minister of PDP-Congress led government. In less than two months in office, the new government decided to grant remaining powers to the Hill Council which included cabinet status to the Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor and status of Deputy Ministers to the Executive Councillors besides others. LAHDC Act 1997 was amended to empower the Hill Council to have the power to accord administrative approval without obtaining techno-economic feasibility from the Government for works up to Rs. 5 crore which was earlier only upto Rs 50 lakh (This power of the Council is now upto Rs 7.5 crore as it was further amended during the previous NC-Congress coalition). Executive powers were also delegated to the Council for allotment, occupation and efficient use and management of land.
Leh accorded a rousing reception to Mufti Mohd Sayeed and the leaders of his coalition partners in the month of January 2003 when he visited Leh after empowering the LAHDC. Speaking to a mammoth gathering at Leh Polo Ground, Mufti had said that the empowerment of Hill Council is not a favour to the people instead it is the rightful status to the council for becoming equal partner in the socio-economic development of the State.
