Jammu: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Wednesday finalised and forwarded the names of their representatives for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)-convened sub-committee meeting scheduled in New Delhi on May 22, with the dialogue taking place amid internal strains within the Ladakh leadership and political uncertainty in Kargil.
The MHA has verbally communicated leaders of the two bodies regarding the upcoming talks, which are being held after a gap of more than three-and-a-half months.
According to veteran Buddhist leader and LAB co-convener CheringDorjay Lakruk, the three-member LAB delegation will comprise Lakruk himself, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and president of the All Ladakh Gonpa Association (LGA) Dorjey Stanzin.
akruk said the discussions would primarily focus on Ladakh’s two key demands–statehood and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The LAB’s delegation has undergone restructuring following the resignation of veteran Buddhist leader and former two-time Lok Sabha member ThupstanChhewang’s resignation as co-chairman while former minister Nawag Rigzin Jora who has reportedly expressed reluctance to be the part of dialogue process.
The KDA delegation will include co-chairmen Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Kargili, along with National Conference vice-president Ghulam Rasool Nagvi, a senior leader from Drass. Nagvi has been inducted into the delegation following the death of veteran leader from Kargil Qamar Ali Akhoon who was also the co-chairman of the KDA.
Ladakh Member of Parliament Mohammad Haneefa Jan and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, are also expected to attend.
The talks assume significance in view of the growing differences within LAB, particularly after the acceptance of ThupstanChhewang’s resignation and decision of Jora to stay away from dialogue process.
The developments have triggered a public exchange between Chhewang and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, with Chhewang raising concerns over alleged attempts to influence the dialogue process and questioning issues related to foreign funding.
Chhewang has maintained that any engagement with the Centre would hold value only if it yielded a meaningful outcome for the people of Ladakh. He reiterated the region’s key demands, including constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule and full statehood, while expressing doubts over the Centre’s willingness to address them.
Importantly, the talks are scheduled at a time when the political uncertainty has also deepened in Kargil following internal differences between the National Conference and Congress despite both parties jointly moving a no-confidence motion against CEC Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon. Notably, 16 councillors from the two parties sought Akhoon’s removal, although he belongs to the National Conference.
The LAB and KDA have been spearheading an agitation for more than five years, pressing for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. The MHA has already held several rounds of discussions through the High-Powered Committee and Sub-Committee, during which issues related to domicile and reservation were taken up.
