Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday called for ongoing dialogue between the Home Affairs Ministry and Ladakh bodies - Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) - on issues such as culture, language, land protection, employment, and Union Territory development.
The statement issued by the LAB and KDA said, that their meeting on Monday with the representatives from the government ended in a stalemate, the future course will be decided by the joint committee.
An official statement published by the MHA confirmed that a six-member team of LAB and KDA visited Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is committed to providing necessary Constitutional safeguards to the Union Territory of Ladakh," the statement said.
The Home Minister assured the delegation that the High Powered Committee on Ladakh, which was formed to look into the demands of the LAB and KDA, has been discussing the modalities to provide Constitutional safeguards.
The statement further said, "The High Powered Committee chaired by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs has been actively working with LAB and KDA representatives."
Significant progress has been achieved. A sub-committee established by the HPC works closely with the Ministry of Law and other specialists. The LAB and KDA have been pursuing statehood for Ladakh, the inclusion of the Union Territory in the Constitution's 6th Schedule, and the establishment of a dedicated Public Service Commission (PSC) for the high-altitude area.
A sub-committee of the LAB and KDA met with officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Advisor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, according to a separate statement made by both groups.
"The meeting ended without any concrete outcome," according to a statement signed by Thupstan Chhewang, Chering Dorjey Lakruk, all from LAB, and Asgar Karbalai and Qamar Ali Akhoon, representing KDA.
Additionally, the delegation requests include two Lok Sabha seats (one for Kargil and one for Leh), as well as job possibilities for Union Territory people. Ladakh presently has a single Lok Sabha seat.
The MHA established the HPC for Ladakh, chaired by Nityanand Rai, with the mandate to debate the steps required to safeguard the region's distinctive culture and language, geographical position, and strategic importance.
The demand for a separate Union Territory in Ladakh was fulfilled on August 5, 2019, but the KDA and LAB have recently protested in New Delhi, Jammu, and Ladakh to highlight their key demands.
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