Statehood talks with MHA hit deadlock: Ladakh leaders

Our Correspondent

Jammu, March 4

The talks regarding the demands of statehood, Sixth Schedule and an exclusive public service commission for the Union Territory between a panel of Ladakh leaders and the Ministry of Home Affairs have failed. Ladakh leaders are set to form a strategy to pressurise the government.

The sub-committee comprising Thupstan Chhewang, Chhering Dorje and Nawang Rigzin Jora from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Qamar Ali Akhoon, Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Kargili from the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) met with MHA officials on Monday. Ladakh Lieutenant Governor’s Adviser Pawan Kotwal was also present during the meeting which was held in North Block, New Delhi.

Chhering Dorje told The Tribune, “The talks have reached a deadlock as the government is not ready to agree to any of the demands. The delegation will be heading back to Ladakh on Wednesday.”

The leaders were present in New Delhi for the past few days after a sub-committee was formed on February 19 comprising six Ladakh leaders. Earlier, the Ladakh delegation comprised 14 leaders from different social, religious and political groups.

Dorje said further course of action would be decided in Ladakh once all stakeholders sit and talk. He did not rule out the possibility of resumption of massive protests which were witnessed earlier.

In a statement later in the evening, the Ladakh delegation stated that the sub-committee of the LAB and the KDA held a meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs officials and the Lieutenant Governor’s Adviser. “The meeting ended without any concrete outcome. Subsequently, the sub-committee members had a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence. This meeting too did not result in any positive outcome. Both the bodies will devise further course of action after consultation with the people of the two districts (Leh and Kargil),” it stated.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry stated that the government was committed to providing the necessary constitutional safeguards to the Ladakh UT.

It said the ministry’s high-powered committee had been working actively with the Ladakh delegates. A significant progress has been made, it added.

Protest likely

• Chhering Dorje, member of the Leh Apex Body, says the future course of action will be decided in Ladakh once all stakeholders hold talks. He doesn’t rule out the possibility of resumption of protests.
• The six members of the Ladakh delegation included three members each from the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.

Impasse continues

• The Ladakh delegates have been demanding statehood, Sixth Schedule and an exclusive public service commission for the UT.
• They say the talks with officials have reached a deadlock as the government is not ready to agree to any of their demands.

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