Ladakh leaders prepare strategy for meeting with Home Ministry

The leaders and social activists from Ladakh, who are demanding implementation of Sixth Schedule and statehood under the banner of Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB), will meet the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on December 3. The leaders have already started preparing for the meeting.

It has been learnt that the leaders of both the associations from Leh and Kargil district are planning their strategy to discuss the four point agenda including – Sixth Schedule, Statehood, two parliamentary seats (presently one) and a dedicated Public Service Commission for the UT.

While the LAB and KDA were protesting and putting forth their demands for the past over two years, there has been no consensus between the MHA and the Ladakh leaders. The earlier round of talks had reached a deadlock earlier this year after which there was no development with regard to the four-point agenda.

The Union government in August granted five new districts for Ladakh, which will take the total number of districts to seven. The government believed that the separate administrative setup for different sub-regions of Ladakh will give confidence to the local population of these areas. However, innovator and educationist Sonam Wangchuk launched a renewed agitation in form of a foot march from Leh to New Delhi in September raising the demand for Sixth Schedule for protection of environment and local communities.

Wangchuk was detained before he reached New Delhi, which brought the issue again to the limelight. He later started a fast at Ladakh Bhawan. On October 21, Center agreed to renew talks with the Ladakh leaders after which Wangchuk returned to the UT.

A member of KDA informed that there are some issues that need to be sorted out with the LAB before the meeting with the MHA is held. He said that a renewed strategy is being formed so that talks do not reach a deadlock like in previous round of meetings.

On December 3, three leaders each from KDA and LBA along with chairmen of LAHDC of Leh and Kargil and MP of Ladakh will be part of the meeting that will be chaired by Nityanand Rai.

Leh Apex Body members will include Thupstan Chhewang, Chering Dorjay Lakrook and Nawang Rigzin Jora while the KDA delegation will include Qamar Ali Akhoon, Asgar Karbalaie and Sajjad Kargili.