MHA invites Ladakh leadership for meeting in Delhi on February 19

Kargil, Feb 2: The union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited the leadership in Ladakh for a meeting in New Delhi on February 19.

The meeting has been called amid a protest call given by Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) over the "delayed dialogue between them and the ministry." LAB and KDA is an amalgam of social, political, trade, students and religious groups of Ladakh.

Official sources said that the meeting between the Ladakh leadership and a High Powered Committee (HPC)headed by Minister of state(MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai will be held at 11:30 AM for which the MHA has sent an invitation to the leadership. It will be second such HPC meeting constituted by the MHA to discuss the issues and demands put forth by the KDA and LAB related Ladakh.

Sources said the Government of India has shown flexibility in its stand and expressed readiness to discuss all contentious issues being raised by the representatives of KDA and LAB after the region was granted the status of the Union Territory on August 5, 2019. Seven representatives each from LAB and KDA will proceed to New Delhi to attend February 19 meeting. Besides 14 members from LAB and KDA, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra, BJP Lok Sabha Member from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and both Chairpersons-cum-CECs of Hill Development Councils, Leh and Kargil have also been invited for the meeting.

Confirming the development, a member of the Leh Apex Body told Greater Kashmir that they have received the invitation. Sajad Hussain Kargili, member of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, told Greater Kashmir that they are going to meet with MHA on Februray 19 with “our four demands and hopeful for the resolution.” The High Powered Committee meet is being held after a year. Last HPC meet was held on December 4, 2023 in Delhi.

Four-point agenda of the LAB and KDA include constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule, statehood for Ladakh, two Lok Sabha seats-one each for Leh and Kargil- and job opportunities for the locals. They have also demanded constitution of the Public Service Commission (PSC) for Ladakh.