Talks to resume soon after Diwali, solution will emerge: Shah
Admn calls upon organizations not to hold protests
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 17: Conceding one of the major demands of Leh Apex Body (LAB) for resumption of talks, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today ordered judicial inquiry into September 24 violence in Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh in which four civilians were killed and 90 others, some of them security personnel, were injured.
The inquiry will be conducted by Dr Justice BS Chauhan, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, an order issued this evening by the MHA Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs, said.
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The Judge will be assisted by Mohan Singh Parihar, Retired District and Sessions Judge as Judicial Secretary and Tushar Anand, IAS as the Administrative Secretary.
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“A serious law and situation was created in Leh town on September 24 resulting into police action and leading to unfortunate death of four individuals. In order to ensure an impartial inquiry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has notified a judicial inquiry to be conducted by Dr Justice BS Chauhan (former Judge Supreme Court of India) into the circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, the police action and resultant unfortunate death of four civilians,” an MHA statement said.
On talks with LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the MHA statement said the Government has always been open for dialogues at any time.
“We would continue to welcome the discussion with Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance through the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh or any such platform. We are confident that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in near future,” the statement said, adding that the Government stands committed to aspirations of the people of Ladakh.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview with a national Hindi news channel announced that talks with the representatives of Ladakh will start very soon and hopefully a solution will emerge.
“We were discussing the issues of Ladakh but unfortunately in between violence erupted and the talks were stopped. We are resuming the talks shortly. May be the talks will start after Diwali,” he said.
Shah expressed confidence that a solution will emerge to the issues of Ladakh.
Briefing reporters in Leh on announcement of judicial inquiry into September 24 violence in Ladakh, Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal called upon the organizers of tomorrow’s silent protests not to hold any such gathering saying Ladakh can’t afford this as normalcy has just started returning and, moreover, their major demand for judicial probe has been conceded.
The LAB and KDA had called for silent protest marches and blackout in Leh and Kargil for tomorrow in support of their demands including judicial inquiry, release of all those arrested after September 24 violence etc.
The LAB and KDA had earlier opted out of talks with the MHA, which were scheduled to be held on October 6, seeking judicial probe, release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, detained under NSA and all others etc.
“Barring 23 persons, who are in judicial custody, all others arrested in the aftermath of September 24 violence, have been released. Those in judicial custody can be released by the court only,” Kotwal said, adding only five injured persons are now admitted in the hospital and rest have been discharged. Out of five injured, four are expected to be discharged in next two weeks while another injured is expected to take time,” the Chief Secretary flanked by DGP SD Singh Jamwal, said.
Kotwal said economy of Ladakh is dependent on tourist, business and trade. Moreover, education session is also on and many posts for the Government jobs have been advertised. At this stage, Ladakh can’t afford gatherings, he said in an indirect reference towards the LAB and KDA call for silent protests and blackout in the UT on October 18.
He said very soon the date for talks with Ladakh representatives by the MHA’s High Powered Committee (HPC) will be announced. The talks will resume for working out solution, he added.
Asserting that public order won’t be allowed to be disturbed, the Chief Secretary Ladakh appealed to the leaders not to take any such action in future as well.
To a question on compensation to the victims of September 24 violence, Kotwal said they have full sympathy with the people who lost their bread earners but there is demand for some sort of arrangements to help their kin permanently. However, he said, no decision has been taken so far.
On Ladakhis being dubbed as anti-nationals, he said he hasn’t seen any such statement but Ladakhis are patriotic and nationalists and will always remain so.
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