- Written points, other issues to figure in meeting
- Centre likely to make some announcements before MCC
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 2: Amidst call for bandh in Ladakh tomorrow and a massive rally proposed in Leh by the Apex Body, the Union Home Ministry today called a meeting of High Powered Committee (HPC) headed by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, in New Delhi on February 19 for further deliberations on the issues submitted by Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) jointly to the MHA on January 16.
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A notice issued by the MHA today said second meeting of the HPC headed by Nityanand Rai will be held at 11.30 AM in the North Block, New Delhi on February 19.
The HPC was constituted on January 2, 2023 but due to objections raised on its composition and agenda, it was reconstituted on November 30, 2023 though its meetings were held in between. First meeting of the revised HPC was held on December 4, 2023.
After the first meeting, the MHA wanted LAB and KDA to submit their agenda in writing by excluding certain points in Sixth Schedule which don’t pertain to Ladakh. The twin bodies submitted their agenda items to the MHA on January 16, 2024 but no meeting was called till social reformer Sonam Wangchuk and LAB gave call for `Leh Chalo’ on February 3 to hold massive rally in support of their four-point agenda including Statehood, Sixth Schedule status, dedicated Public Services Commission (PSC) and two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh.
Besides Leh Chalo, the Apex Body has also given call for complete bandh in Leh tomorrow. The KDA has given call for bandh in Kargil on Saturday. However, All Kargil Transporters Association has distanced itself from tomorrow’s bandh saying the KDA has never taken up their genuine demands pertaining to buses, trucks and taxis.
Just a day before `Leh Chalo’ and Ladakh bandh, the MHA today issued the meeting notice for HPC on February 19, the sources said, adding that written points submitted by LAB and KDA to the MHA are likely to be discussed in the meeting among other issues to be taken up by the members.
Headed by Union MoS Home Nityanand Rai, the HPC comprised LG Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra, Lok Sabha member from UT, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Chairpersons-cum-CECs Leh and Kargil Hill Councils, Joint Secretary, MHA Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Director/Deputy Secretary Ladakh MHA (Member Secretary) and seven representatives each from LAB and KDA.
The LAB representatives include Thupstan Chhewang, Chairman LAB, Chhering Dorjey Lakrook, Nawang Rigzin Jora, president Congress, Ashraf Ali Barcha, Dr Abdul Qayum, Tsering Wangdus and Padma Stanzin. The KDA leaders in the HPC are Asgar Ali Karbalai, working president Congress, Qamar Ali Akhoon, general secretary NC, Sajjad Hussain Kargili, Sheikh Bashir Shakir, Skarma Dadul, Mubarak Shah Naqvi and Syed Ahmed Rizvi.
An announcement on addressing some of the issues of Ladakh can be made by the Union Home Ministry this month well before the imposition of Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections in first week of March. It is widely being believed that Nubra and Zanskar could get the status of districts, the sources said.
Besides, they said the MHA could make some announcements including safeguards for land, culture, identity etc. However, possibility of Statehood has been ruled out. As far as another demand of the two bodies regarding two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh instead of present one is concerned, it can be done only after 2026 as delimitation of constituencies has been freezed till then. On job opportunities and Public Services Commission (PSC) demand, all such issues are on top priority, the sources said.
It may be mentioned here that the BJP is not part of LAB and KDA though its Lok Sabha member from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal is member of the HPC. CEC-cum-Chairperson Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council Tashi Gyalson is also a BJP leader, who too is part of the HPC.
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