Statehood, 6th Schedule: Religious bodies call Ladakh bandh today

Srinagar, Mar 06: Several religious bodies in Leh today called for Ladakh bandh following breakdown of talks between LAB and KDA with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Several organizations have supported the bandh call.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had conceded the demand of Ladakh bodies for Public Services Commission (PSC) and implementation of some parts of Sixth Schedule through elected Hill Development Councils but deadlock erupted as Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) demanded full implementation of Sixth Schedule besides Statehood during yesterday’s Sub Committee meeting as well as talks with Home Minister Amit Shah.

Talking to media Leh Apex Body co-chairman Chering Dorjey Lakruk said that there was good progress on setting up of the PSC for Ladakh though some UTs don’t have their own PSC. The Services Selection Board was set up by the UT administration recently.

“The MHA wanted to implement some parts of Sixth Schedule indirectly while we are insisted on direct implementation of Sixth Schedule,’’ Lakruk told media.

He said deadlock prevailed on the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule.

The Home Ministry had yesterday called for continuous dialogue to provide necessary Constitutional safeguards to the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Meanwhile educationist and social reformer Sonam Wangchuk has also announced to go on fast in protest against the failure of talks.

“A rally has also been planned in Leh today,’’ the religious organizations said.

The LAB and KDA leaders are expected to return to Ladakh shortly. They have announced that they will talk to the people on future course of action after talks failed to make any headway.

The LAB and KDA leaders held series of rounds of meetings with Union Home Ministry during past more than two years on four-point agenda including Statehood, Sixth Schedule, Public Services Commission and two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh.