JAMMU: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has fixed December 4, 2023, for meeting with Ladakh leaders in New Delhi for further discussions on their demands and all other outstanding issues.
The MHA invitation came after Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) sent names of seven representatives each, who will be attending the meeting which will be chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai who heads the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh.
“The meeting is scheduled to be held at Noon on December 4,” the officials said, adding the meeting will be open for discussion on any subject.
Seven members from LAB who will attend the meeting include Thupstan Chhewang, ex MP and president Ladakh Buddhist Association, Chhering Dorjey Lakrook, former Cabinet Minister in erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir Government, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Congress president for Ladakh and ex-Cabinet Minister J&K, Tsering Wangdus, president, Ladakh Gonpa Association, Ashraf Ali Barcha, president, Anjuman Imamia Leh, Abdul Qayoom, president, Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam-Leh and Padma Stanzin, president Student Union-LEAF.
Prominent among those from KDA include Qamar Ali Akhoon, Asgar Ali Karbalaie and Sajjad Kargili.
Four-point agenda of the LAB and KDA include grant of Sixth Schedule status and Statehood for Ladakh, two Lok Sabha seats-one each for Leh and Kargil- and job opportunities for the locals.
They have also demanded constitution of the Public Service Commission (PSC) for Ladakh but said if it can’t be constituted, Ladakh should be included in the PSC of Jammu and Kashmir on the pattern of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
According to one member of the KDA, they have stressed on the need that Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) should be made mandatory for all kind of recruitments.
Last meeting of the High Powered Committee was held in New Delhi on June 19 this year after which the LAB and KDA had decided that they will attend next meeting only if their agenda is included in the talks.
Though the Central Government had earlier ruled out Statehood for Ladakh but now the MHA has briefed LAB that all issues can be discussed in the meeting, the official sources said, adding this has prompted LAB and KDA to accept the invite for talks.
After June 19 talks, another meeting of the HPC was delayed due to visit of Tibetan Spiritual Leader The Dalai Lama to Ladakh for nearly one and a half months followed by elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil.
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