Setback to Ladakh conglomerate
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 25: In a setback to Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who are seeking Statehood for the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) Kargil today announced its dissociation from the twin bodies.
Addressing a press conference in Kargil, Tsewang Nurbu and other representatives of LBA Kargil declared that they are neither the part of Apex Body nor the Democratic Alliance, both of which had joined hands on August 2 this year to project demands of Ladakh before the Central Government.
“They (the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance) have no right to speak on our behalf,” Nurbu, vice president of LBA Kargil said.
He added that the Apex Body and Democratic Alliance can’t take any decision on their behalf.
Sources said the dissociation of LBA Kargil from the conglomerate of Apex Body and KDA is a setback to their efforts to unite all political parties, social, religious and student organizations among others to come on one platform.
During its last meeting in Kargil in which the Apex Body and Democratic Alliance had announced launch of agitation in support of their demands, they had declared that the LBA Kargil has also joined their movement and had described it as their major achievement.
Sources said the dissociation of the LBA Kargil within days of joining of the movement is definitely a setback to joint platform of Ladakh bodies.
Worthwhile to mention here that the Bharatiya Janata Party which has lone Lok Sabha Member from Ladakh and is in power in Hill Development Council in Leh besides being junior partner in Hill Council Kargil is not part of the Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance.
The Apex Body and Democratic Alliance have been demanding Statehood for Ladakh, Constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule or similar status, two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat for Ladakh and speedy recruitment of around 10,000 vacancies in the Union Territory.
The Apex Body and Democratic Alliance have given call for bandh followed by agitation in support of their demands and not calling them for talks by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs despite commitment by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai during his Leh visit on August 29.
Sources said the Central Government seems to be averse to the demand of Statehood to Ladakh on the ground that the people of Leh had been demanding UT status for past several years and the demand was fulfilled on August 5, 2019 when erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was divested of special status and bifurcated into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The Centre is, however, open to the demand for Sixth Schedule like status to the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The MHA had promised to set up a Committee for talks with Apex Body and Democratic Alliance during Rai’s meeting with them in Leh. However, the Panel hasn’t been announced so far.
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