lab-kda-seek-guarantees-for-ladakh-ahead-of-mha-meet

The resentment over the delay in a fresh meeting between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and representatives from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is forcing residents to demand written guarantees from the high-powered committee rather than verbal assurances.

 

The next meeting is likely to take place around this week on February 25.

 

During the previous meeting held on January 15, the Sub Committee in the Union capital, the LAB, and KDA representatives were told that the next meeting could take place on February 25.

 

Locals allege that there has been no official communication over the proposed meeting between the high-powered committee and LAB, KDA.

 

“None of the assurances announced in the meeting have been fulfilled as no formal orders were issued either by the Union Home Ministry or by the Union Territory (UT) Ladakh Administration,” they said.

 

They recalled that in the December 3 meeting, the MHA representatives announced 95 per cent recruitment in all categories for locals and 33 per cent reservation to women in the Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil.

 

However, the representatives from Ladakh said that not a single order has been issued about the assurance held out to them in the last two meetings and that they will forcefully take up the issuance of written orders immediately in the next meeting.

 

“It seems the central government is just gaining time,” one of the leaders said while expressing his disagreement.

 

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Meanwhile, in the January meeting, it was also decided that a blueprint for domicile would be ready within the next few days.

 

LAB and KDA have been demanding a four-point agenda including statehood, sixth schedule status, a dedicated PSC, and two parliamentary seats for Ladakh.

 

There has been no response from the MHA on statehood and Sixth Schedule status.

 

As far as two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh are concerned, the LAB and KDA have been told that this can be done only after delimitation for Lok Sabha seats is taken up after 2026.