Allege bids to divide bodies on region, religion
No recruitment be made without LRC
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 23: After crucial meeting, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) today announced that they were ready for talks with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as they extended support to education and social reformer Sonam Wangchuk’s 10-day fast beginning May 26 in support of the Ladakh demands.
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Asserting that attempts are being made to divide LAB and KDA at both political as well as administration level, the representatives of the two parties said they stand united in support of their four-point agenda which include Statehood, Sixth Schedule, two Parliamentary seats and recruitment opportunities for Ladakh.
“No recruitment should be made in Ladakh—whether Gazetted or non-Gazetted without Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC),” they said.
All senior leaders of LAB and KDA attended the meeting that lasted nearly three hours in Kargil. They addressed a joint press conference after the meeting.
Speaking to reporters, LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang said they will attend the meeting called by the Union Home Ministry without any agenda at the first instance.
“We will use the occasion (the first meeting) to set the agenda. If the agenda is acceptable to us, we will attend the meeting, if not we will walk out,” Chhewang said, adding that initially they will go for talks without any pre-conditions.
This is being seen as dilution in the LAB and KDA stand as after constitution of High Powered Committee (HPC) by the Union Home Ministry on January 4, 2023 headed by MoS Home Nityanand Rai, the two bodies had dissociated themselves from the HPC saying it neither includes their agenda nor the representatives recommended by them for incorporation.
To a question on whether Leh and Kargil unity will stand, Chhewang said this issue was also discussed in detail in today’s meeting. He added that already attempts are being made at the level of political parties and administration to divide them on the name of region and religion but they stand united.
Responding to another question on Ladakh Lok Sabha member and BJP leader Jamyang Tsering Namgayal’s statement yesterday that Sixth Schedule status will weaken Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil, Chhewang claimed that movement for Sixth Schedule was, in fact, started by the MP himself.
“Sixth Schedule will empower the twin Councils to the extent that they will make laws for their areas. This power is not with the Councils presently. The Councils will also get powers for planning and decision-making under Sixth Schedule. The Councils have recruitment powers but after Ladakh became the UT, they are not using it,” the LAB chairman said.
KDA co-chairperson Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie told reporters that the two bodies are ready for talks with the Centre, whether at the level of Home Minister or his deputy, on the four-point agenda for Ladakh safeguards.
“We want to convey to the Government of India and the people of the country that we will never shy away from the dialogue. If the Government extends an invitation, the core committee of the bodies will select a joint delegation for the dialogue, Karbalaie said.
He said the people of Ladakh are “serious and sincere” in their support for the four-point agenda.
Karbalaie said the meeting also extended its support to education reformist Sonam Wangchuk’s proposed fast.
“Earlier Wangchuk had a five-day protest fast in January and now he is holding a 10-day-long fast from May 26 in support of the four-point agenda. Both KDA and LAB stand with him,” he said.
He said the meeting also discussed the recruitment of educated youth and called for making Ladakh Residence Certificate compulsory for all kind of jobs, whether gazetted or non-gazetted posts, in the Union Territory.
There has been no official contact between the Union Home Minister and LAB and KDA leadership for past several months now. The MHA had constituted a High Powered Committee headed by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai in first week of January this year but its composition and agenda were rejected by the two bodies of Ladakh and thereafter it didn’t convene any meeting.
As exclusively reported by the Excelsior the Central Government has virtually ruled out Statehood as well as Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh but was mulling empowerment of LAHDCs, Leh and Kargil, either by an Act of Parliament or by an order of the Union Home Ministry, to protect land, culture, heritage etc of Ladakh.
In addition to the powers for protection of land, culture etc, the twin Councils of Leh and Kargil will also be empowered with more financial and administrative powers which will help them to carry out more developmental works in their areas of jurisdiction.
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