Calls for resumption of talks with Centre
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which has been spearheading agitation for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status to the Union Territory of Ladakh along with Leh Apex Body (LAB), has called for immediate resumption of talks with the Centre, the last round of which was held on February 4.
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The KDA said it remains open to any fresh proposal from the Centre, excluding Council-based arrangements.
“If the Centre comes out with any new proposal – other than territorial, regional, or any Council-based framework – we are ready to discuss it with an open mind and open heart,” KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai told reporters in Kargil today in the presence of senior leaders including Ladakh MP Mohammad Haneefa Jan and Sajjad Kargili.
He said the KDA has conveyed to the Centre that its core demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule are non-negotiable and represent the Constitutional rights and aspirations of the people.
“No further action has been taken after the last meeting on February 4. The Government of India, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), had promised that the next meeting would be convened within 10-15 days, where Ladakhis’ aspirations and demands would be considered seriously and sincerely. However, that day has not come yet,” Karbalai said.
Asserting that they have been engaging in talks with the MHA in good faith since 2021, he said we continue to do so.
Referring to their recent meeting with Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Karbalai said they made it clear that if the Government is serious and sincere, and truly intends to consider the aspirations of the people of Ladakh, it should immediately initiate the dialogue process.
“The MHA repeatedly urges us to refrain from shutdowns, protests, marches, and hunger strikes, assuring us that a dialogue will take place. This puts us in a difficult position, as we too do not wish to disrupt normal life. However, when no action follows these assurances, we are left with no option but to call for protests and take to the streets,” he said.
Rejecting any speculation about internal divisions, the leaders asserted that both the KDA and the LAB remain united and speak in one voice on all key issues.
“We have unanimously rejected any council-based proposal – whether territorial, regional, or by any other name. This position was clearly communicated to the LG as well,” Karbalai said.
Reaffirming their resolve, he said the leadership would not yield to pressure or inducements.
“We are not afraid of jail or threats. We will endure everything but will not step back from our agenda,” he said.
Haneefa Jan, the lone Lok Sabha MP from Ladakh, stressed that issues must be resolved through sustained and meaningful dialogue rather than limited interactions that yield no concrete outcomes.
“It is not our intention to create unrest. The priority is that dialogue should begin as soon as possible. And once the dialogue starts, it should not be limited to just one meeting with two or three hours of discussion, which does not lead to any concrete outcome. The process must continue consistently,” Jan said.
Sajjad Kargili highlighted the absence of constitutional safeguards and meaningful democratic representation in Ladakh, stating that the region continues to lack a proper democratic voice.
“Ladakh has long lacked adequate safeguards. Even today, there are no constitutional protections in place. The Government had promised inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, but that commitment remains unfulfilled. Moreover, democratic rights remain largely absent, with democracy effectively missing in Ladakh for the past six years,” Kargili claimed.
The leaders also said they urged LG Saxena to release the detained youth and withdraw the cases stemming from the September 24 violence in Leh last year as a goodwill measure to restore trust and facilitate talks.
Warning that protests may continue if delays persist, they maintained that dialogue remains their preferred path.
“Any future course of action will be decided jointly and communicated to the public,” Kargili said.
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