Ladakh delegation demand of statehood, sixth schedule in the meeting with MoS Home

The representatives of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance from Ladakh on Monday said the meeting with union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai in Delhi was positive as the minister assured to take the dialogue process forward.

The minister told the six member delegation of LAB and KDA that issues of the people of Ladakh are important for the central government.

“We have heard all your issues and concerns and we will reach out to you with our response soon” the minister told the representatives in the meeting. The minister has further said, “It is not good for us that people of the Ladakh will be unhappy…people of Ladakh are connected with the country through their hearts.”

The LAB and KDA have pressed for their demands of statehood, implementation of sixth schedule, two Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil and a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh, to ensure employment of the residents of Ladakh.

They have also expressed their concerns regarding the composition of high powered committee in August 2021, which has resulted in stalling of dialogue since then. According to the representatives the minister has agreed to look into this matter as well. In Ladakh, prominent innovator and social activist Sonam Wangchuk had kept a one day fast along with several residents of Leh and Kargil to pray for the success of the meeting in New Delhi.

The meeting with the minister lasted for over 90 minutes and the representatives from Ladakh said that the minister patiently listened to their demands and concerns.

“We put forth our demands and concerns regarding the composition of high powered committee. The minister in presence of home secretary said that the govt will soon sit on this matter as the concerns and issues of Ladakh are important for the government,” said Sajad Kargili of the KDA, who attended the meeting.

The dialogue between Ladakh and the union government resumed after 22 months on Monday and during this period people of Ladakh observed strikes and organized protests in Leh, Kargil, Jammu and Delhi to press for their demands. In 2019, the residents of Leh had welcomed the decision of the BJP government to carve out Ladakh from J&K as a separate union territory, while Kargil had observed strike for several weeks. However, four years later people across Ladakh fear demographic change, environmental disaster and loss of land and jobs due to influx of the non locals.

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