Release four-point agenda for talks
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 14: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) today formally announced that six members–three each from LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) will proceed to New Delhi to meet Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai for talks on June 19.
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The Apex Body appealed to the people of Ladakh to observe fast on June 18 in support of education reformist Sonam Wangchuk who will be keeping fast for seven days.
Addressing a press conference, LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang announced that three members each from LAB and KDA will go to New Delhi to meet the Union MoS Home who has invited them for talks.
The delegation was jointly finalised by LAB and KDA.
Six-member delegation include Thupstan Chhewang, Chering Dorjay Lakruk and Nawang Rigzin Jora from LAB and Qamar Ali Akhoon, Asgar Ali Karbalaie and Sajjad Kargili from KDA.
They said they will take up four point agenda during the talks including full-fledged Statehood for Ladakh, Constitutional Safeguards under Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, early recruitment process and Public Services Commission (PSC) for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Earlier this month, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had invited LAB and KDA for talks in New Delhi on June 19.
This is after 21 months that stalled dialogue between MHA with LAB and KDA is being resumed. Last official talks between MHA and representatives of the two bodies were held in Leh on August 29, 2021. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had held the talks.
Nityanand Rai, who heads High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh issues, will lead the talks along with senior officers of the Home Ministry dealing with Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh Affairs. However, it will not be the HPC meeting as initially the MHA will talk to six representatives from Ladakh and if the agenda is finalized, the HPC meeting may be called.
Rai had last held meeting with LAB and KDA during his visit to Leh on August 29, 2021 and assured constitution of a Committee for further talks. Though backchannel talks were held on some occasions between MHA representatives and senior LAB leader, it was on January 4, 2023 that the MHA formally set up the High Powered Committee headed by Rai which drew flak from LAB and KDA as in its agenda their major demands like Statehood and Sixth schedule status to Ladakh were missing.
Both the organizations had announced boycott of the HPC.
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