Breakthrough on cards during crucial meet between Shah, Leh leaders today

MP, Ex MP, Minister, CEC, top leaders reach Delhi

KDA refuses to join delegation, demands Statehood

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 4: A breakthrough on Ladakh’s demand for Sixth Schedule like status seems to be on the cards as Union Home Minister Amit Shah will meet leaders of the People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule comprising leaders of Leh district only at 3 pm tomorrow in New Delhi as the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) refused to join the talks on the ground that their demands were different and they haven’t been extended any invitation by the Home Ministry.
“An 11-member delegation of Leh’s apex body will meet Shah at 3 pm tomorrow in New Delhi on the invitation of the Ministry of Home Affairs for discussion on Sixth Schedule like status to Ladakh,” official sources told the Excelsior and said they are quite confident of a breakthrough on the issues of Ladakh.
The delegation comprised 11 members including Thupstan Chhewang, former two-time Lok Sabha member from Ladakh, Tashi Gyalson, Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Jamyang Tsering Namgayal, Lok Sabha member from Ladakh, LBA Youth Wing president Konchok Ishey, Anjuman Moin-Ul president Dr Abdul Qayum, Anjuman Imamiya president Ashraf Ali, Christian community leader Dechen Chambga, Ladakh Gonpa Association president Shatup Chamba, former Rajya Sabha member Thiksay Khanpo Rinpoche, ex-Minister Chering Dorje Lakrook and student leader Jigmet Paljor.
Though the Kargil Democratic Alliance leaders didn’t get direct invite from the Union Home Ministry, they were requested by Leh apex body leader Thupstan Chhewang to join their delegation. Chhewang had received the Union Home Minister’s call for talks and asked to bring a large delegation to New Delhi on January 5.
KDA co-chairman Qamar Ali Akhoon told the Excelsior that they didn’t join the delegation as their agenda is entirely different from that of Leh’s apex body.
The KDA which comprised various political parties, social, religious, youth and student organizations of Kargil, has decided to demand separate State for Ladakh and restoration of special status which Ladakh enjoyed when it was part of Jammu and Kashmir, Akhoon said.
“We had no direct invitation from the Home Ministry. Moreover, our demands are different from that of Leh. So, we decided not to join delegation of Leh’s apex body,” he added.
Sources said the Kargil Democratic Alliance discussed invite of the apex body of Leh and decided not to join it.
It may be mentioned here that the Kargil Democratic Alliance had earlier announced that the Union Home Ministry should extend separate invitation to them for talks on the issues concerning Ladakh.
Chhewang said the apex body has decided to insist on Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh in their meeting with the Union Home Minister.
However, according to sources, some leaders from Leh including Tashi Gyalson, CEC LAHDC Leh have mooted the idea of incorporation of 13th Schedule in the Indian Constitution to address issues 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 had told the Excelsior.
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.
Sources said since the Union Home Ministry is concerned about issues raised by the apex body of Ladakh, a solution is likely to be worked out in tomorrow’s meeting between leaders of Leh and the Union Home Minister.
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.
Earlier in the day, BJP Lok Sabha member from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgayal and LAHDC Leh CEC Tashi Gyalson called on BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi and updated him on the party activities in Ladakh.
They also discussed various issues pertaining to UT of Ladakh, a tweet by Namgayal said.