Apex body insists on 6th Schedule, CEC floats idea of 13th Schedule
*No invite to Kargil leadership so far
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 29: To break the ice on 6th Schedule demand for Union Territory of Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today called apex body of Leh, which had spearheaded agitation for safeguards to the UT, socio-religious, political heads and new elected Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, to New Delhi for a meeting on January 5.
While Thupstan Chhewang, prominent leader of the People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule and two-time Lok Sabha members, received a direct call from Shah for a meeting today, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which was also expecting an invite from the Home Minister, didn’t receive any call. However, Chhewang had decided to approach the KDA to join the delegation with them.
Chhewang told the Excelsior this evening after an “interactive-session” organized by the People’s Movement that they have accepted the invite from the Home Minister and will be reaching New Delhi on January 3 or 4 ahead of the meeting which has been scheduled for January 5.
“This time we will like a large delegation to visit New Delhi for talks with the Home Minister. We will like to include the members of apex body besides heads of political parties, socio-religious organizations, Member Parliament (MP) Ladakh and LAHDC Leh CEC Tashi Gyalson,” he said.
Chhewang said today’s meeting decided that the apex body should insist on Sixth Schedule demand for Ladakh.
LAHDC Leh CEC Tashi Gyalson, however, has floated the idea of creation of new 13th Schedule for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
“We have full faith on the Government of India. They are very supportive to Ladakh. It’s just my suggestion and not demand for creation of new 13th Schedule which should be Ladakh specific and fulfill aspirations of the people of the Union Territory,” Gyalson said.
Asked whether he will be part of the delegation visiting New Delhi, the CEC said it is prerogative of the apex body.
Gyalson said there are total of 12 Schedules in the country and 13th schedule can be Ladakh specific to meet people’s demands.
The people of Ladakh are demanding safeguards for their land, jobs, culture, identity, language, geography etc which has been assured by the Union Home Ministry.
On taking Kargil leaders with them, Gyalson said Leh always wants to take Kargil with them but some politicians there are bent upon to destroy unity of Ladakh.
However, KDA leaders said they haven’t received any invitation from Shah for talks.
LAHDC Kargil CEC Feroz Khan and KDA co-chairman Qamar Ali Akhoon separately told the Excelsior that the Union Home Ministry hasn’t extended any invitation to the KDA for talks though they had stated that they too are equal stakeholders and want to be part of the dialogue.
“After the first meeting with apex body, the MHA in its press note had clearly mentioned that representives from Kargil will also be invited for talks. The MHA must invite the Kargil Democratic Alliance for talks as they have already announced they are ready for talks whenever Government of India will invite,” Feroz Khan said.
“We had said if called for talks (by the Union Home Ministry) we will respond positively. We are ready for talks with anyone-be they Leh representatives, Gupkar Alliance or New Delhi leadership,” Akhoon said.
It may be mentioned here that the People’s Movement, comprising leaders of all political parties and religious organizations of Leh had given call for boycott of LAHDC Leh elections soon after they were announced in September. No candidate had filed nomination papers for elections after the boycott call.
Home Minister Amit Shah had later called the Movement leaders for talks in New Delhi and assured to address their concerns including Sixth Schedule like status for Ladakh after election process for the LAHDC Leh is over. The BJP had won clear majority in the LAHDC Leh securing 15 out of 26 seats leaving Congress at second spot with nine seats.
The Union Home Ministry had promised all Constitutional safeguards to the people of Ladakh enshrined in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India either by implementing the Sixth Schedule or in any other form. It had said the decision will be taken in consultations with representatives from Leh and Kargil.
The Home Ministry had also agreed to empowerment of Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil, which was one of the demands projected by the delegation.
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