Breakthrough in Ladakh stalemate: MHA to resume dialogue with LAB, KDA on Dec 3

Sonam Wangchuk ends indefinite fast after receiving invitation for talks; leaders keep fingers crossed

Jammu: In a crucial move to break the ongoing stalemate, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited Ladakh leaders to resume discussions on contentious issues, including Constitutional Safeguards under Sixth Schedule and Statehood for Ladakh, under a four-point agenda.
The MHA has declared that the next meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC), constituted to hold dialogue with the representatives of Ladakh, will take place on December 3.
Following this dialogue offer, climate activist and education reformist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 16-day indefinite fast, along with others, at Ladakh Bhawan in Delhi.
"The MHA Joint Secretary for J&K and Ladakh Affairs, Ladakh section visited Ladakh Bhawan and handed over a letter from the Home Ministry wherein it has stated that the HPC headed by Union MoS Home Nityanand Rai, will resume talks and hold next meeting in MHA North Block, New Delhi on December 3," Chering Dorjay, veteran leader of Leh Apex Body (LAB) told The News Now over phone from New Delhi.
Dorjay said the Member of Parliament Ladakh Mohmad Hanifa Jan and religious leaders from various organizations in Leh district were present when the Joint Secretary MHA delivered the letter, which offered to resume discussions with Ladakhi representatives. Following this, Sonam Wangchuk, who had been fasting since October 6, decided to break his fast.
The LAB leader while quoting the offer letter said the high-powered committee of the ministry, which was holding talks with representatives from Ladakh, will hold the next meeting on December 3.
The decision to resume dialogue reportedly followed a meeting between senior BJP leaders from the Ladakh Union Territory and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was briefed on local issues in New Delhi on Sunday.
Yesterday, Wangchuk was joined by LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakruk and other activists in New Delhi. The LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been spearheading the agitation for four major demands including Sixth Schedule Status, Statehood, two Lok Sabha seats and dedicated Public Services Commission (PSC) for Ladakh.
It may be placed here that the process for creation of five districts, as approved by the MHA, has already been set in motion by the UT administration of Ladakh and it will be done soon after a high-level Committee constituted for the purpose submits its report while recruitment on Gazetted posts which has been held up for a long time will also start.
Senior leader of Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) Sajjad Kargili while reacting to the development said, "This marks a positive step towards addressing the concerns of Ladakh's people. We hope that the meaningful talks between two sides will progress and the Central government will seriously look into the four major demands of Ladakhi people and find a resolution to it".
He also expressed his gratitude to the Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Leh Council Tashi Gyalson, saying he along with other leaders met the Union Home Minister and facilitated the dialogue process. "This is the statesmanship which is required to be displayed……we hope the central government will take into consideration the genuine demand of Ladakhi people for their basic democratic rights and jobs for Ladakhi youth, apart from separate cadre for Ladakh and Public Service Commission. It will further strengthen the bonding between Ladakhi people and the Centre".
Yesterday, Kargili had said, "We have been left without statehood, without our constitutional protections under t he Sixth Schedule, and without the autonomy to control our own future," he said. "This deprivation is unacceptable."

Updated On 10/22/2024 1:34:05 AM