The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) held a joint meeting on Sunday, urging the Central government to resume talks on their four-point agenda, which includes statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
During the three-hour meeting, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey Lakruk said he hoped the Central government would restart stalled dialogues.
“We had a joint meeting lasting three hours here to discuss the way forward with regard to our four-point agenda which remains the focal point for future talks with the Central government,” said Lakruk.
The four-point agenda also calls for the establishment of a Public Service Commission for Ladakh, early recruitment processes, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
KDA leader Naseer Munshi commented on the abrupt end of talks with the Centre in March, stating, “We were waiting for the government to restart the stalled dialogue but there was no initiative from their end.”
He noted the peaceful nature of their demands, adding, “We are peace-loving and believe in the resolution of our issues through talks. If the government remains adamant, we will go for an agitation.”
Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Haji Hanifa Jan, who attended the meeting, said he would continue to highlight the region's demands both within and outside Parliament. “I have already raised the issue with various ministers and Members of Parliament,” Jan said.
“In case the Government fails to restart dialogues, we will not hesitate to launch a sustained agitation to carry forward our movement in support of our demands linked to Ladakh’s future,” Lakruk asserted.
LAB and KDA, comprising various political, social, and religious organisations, have been advocating for their four-point agenda since the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and led to the bifurcation of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories.
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