‘Jora to continue participation in Apex Body, HPC’
* Wangchuk inducted into LAB; to represent in HPC, SC
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 7: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended an invitation to Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for talks on July 28 but the proposals have been rejected on the ground that the date is too far and the meeting should be convened around July 15, the day climate activist Sonam Wangchuk proposed to go on 35-day hunger strike.
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LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook told the Excelsior on telephone from Leh that the MHA through the Chief Secretary Ladakh has conveyed them the date of next meeting as July 28 “which is not acceptable to us as it will delay the talks”.
“We have conveyed to the Chief Secretary that the talks should be held around July 15, the day Sonam Wangchuk proposed to go on 35-day hunger strike so that he can be persuaded to give up his fast,” Lakrook said, adding they haven’t received any message from the UT administration so far on fresh date for talks.
He said Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is reaching Leh on July 12 and the talks can be fixed by the MHA for July 15 or 16. “We have conveyed our proposal to the MHA through the Chief Secretary Ladakh and we are confident that the date would be advanced so that Wangchuk can be persuaded to give up his hunger strike,” he added.
The LAB held a meeting in Leh today under the chairmanship of Lakrook and unanimously decided to nominate climate activist Sonam Wangchuk as representative of the Apex Body in the High powered Committee (HPC) and Sub-Committee constituted for talks with the MHA. In the meeting, Wangchuk was welcomed and inducted by the Apex Body, recognizing his unwavering commitment to Ladakh’s cause and his dedicated efforts in voicing aspirations of the people.
The LAB members visited the house of Thupstan Chhewang, Chairman of the Apex Body who resigned yesterday from the body as well as HPC and Sub-Committee, to convey “strong and united message” and appealed him to withdraw his resignation. However, Chhewang told the members that he would reflect on the matter and speak about it at an appropriate time.
The meeting also took note of resignation by UT Congress chief and LAB member Nawang Rigzin Jora from HPC and Sub Committee and urged him to reconsider his decision.
A LAB statement said Jora agreed to extend his continued support and participation in Apex Body as well as HPC. He also reaffirmed his continuous support and respect to Chhewang’s chairmanship/leadership of LAB.
Last meeting of the HPC was held in New Delhi on May 27 and was chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai in which the issues of reservation and domicile were settled. Now, the LAB and KDA have shifted their focus to their core issues of Statehood and Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh.
The LAB and KDA had joined hands with four-point agenda after which they were invited for talks by the MHA which has set up two Panels-High Powered Committee and Sub Committee. The HPC meeting is headed by Nityanand Rai while Sub Committee meeting is chaired by senior officers from the MHA.
The HPC meeting was held on May 27 and it was decided that next meeting of the Sub Committee will be held within a month.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan too visited Ladakh on a two-day visit on June 30 and July 1. Besides a review of development works, he met a delegation of the Leh Apex Body and listened to their issues. He too assured the LAB members that next meeting of the MHA with Apex Body and KDA will be convened soon.
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