Ladakh delegation to take up demands with MHA

Jammu, February 23

A six-member Ladakh delegation will discuss its three demands — statehood, Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and a separate public service commission for the UT — with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) panel on Saturday.

While the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been involved in discussions with a panel of the MHA, including Union Minister of State Nityanand Rai for quite some time, the meeting on Saturday will be the first in the series to hold concrete discussions on three issues with only six members from the Ladakh delegation against an earlier panel of 14 members.

The Ladakh delegation, in an earlier meeting on February 19, had agreed to give up the demand of the second Lok Sabha seat for the UT. Presently, there is one parliamentary seat in Ladakh. The demand was removed from the list in the wake of delimitation for parliamentary constituencies pending in 2026. A sub-committee was also constituted to hold further discussions.

The six-member sub-committee from Ladakh will include Ladakh Buddhist Association’s (LBA) president Thupstan Tsewang, vice president Chhering Dorje and Ladakh Congress president Nawang Rogzin Jora. These members represent the Leh Apex Body.

Qamar Ali Akhoon, general secretary of the Kargil unit of the National Conference, Asgar Ali Karbalai, working president of the Ladakh Congress, and Sajjad Kargili, representative of Islamia School, Kargil, are from the Kargil Democratic Alliance.

The MHA’s delegation includes the Joint Secretary as well as the Deputy Secretary of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs. Besides, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor’s Adviser will represent the UT administration during the meeting.