Chhewang remains firm on decision; Wangchuk inducted into Apex Body, MHA-formed panel; leaders insist on early talks
Arteev Sharma
Jammu, July 7: In a dramatic turn of events just a day after resigning from the Leh Apex Body (LAB), former minister and UT Congress chief Nawang Rigzin Jora on Monday virtually withdrew his resignation and reaffirmed his commitment to the organisation and confirming his participation in all future engagements of the LAB and the High Powered Committee (HPC) set up by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address Ladakh’s concerns.
In yet another significant move, prominent climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has been inducted into the LAB as well as the HPC and its Sub-Committee (also referred to as the Core Committee), indicating a key restructuring of the Apex Body.
Sources told The News Now that a delegation of LAB members, led by senior leader and Co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook, visited the residences of both LAB Chairman Thupstan Chhewang and Nawang Rigzin Jora on Monday, urging them to reconsider their resignations in light of the upcoming HPC or Core Committee meeting with the MHA, which is tentatively scheduled for later this month.
While Jora agreed to continue his association with the LAB and confirmed participation in future dialogues through the HPC and its Sub-Committee, Chhewang remained firm on his decision. “He conveyed that he would reflect on the matter and issue a statement at an appropriate time,” said a LAB member.
It followed a hurriedly-called meeting convened by Chering Dorjay Lakrok to assess the situation triggered by the sudden resignations of two key LAB leaders.
A senior LAB member confirmed that while Jora agreed to remain part of the Apex Body and the HPC, Chhewang remained non-committal, stating he would reflect on the matter and issue a formal statement at an “appropriate time”. “It has also been decided to include Sonam Wangchuk in the HPC as well as its sub-committee,” the LAB member added.
The inclusion of Sonam Wangchuk is being seen as an effort to inject “renewed momentum and public trust” into the LAB’s leadership structure following a vacuum created by Chhewang’s exit from the Apex Body.
Reacting to the situation, Sajjad Kargili, senior leader of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) said, “It has been learnt that Nawang Rigzin Jora has agreed to reconsider his decision”.
“We are hopeful that this will not impact the unity between LAB and KDA. Our joint commitment to addressing the aspirations of Ladakhi people remains firm. The dialogue process with the Centre must continue unhindered.”
Meanwhile, sources said the MHA has proposed a meeting of the HPC or its sub-committee by the end of July, but LAB leaders have pushed for holding it by July 15 in view of Wangchuk’s planned hunger strike from that day to press for statehood and Sixth Schedule status. They have also cited the upcoming birthday celebrations of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who is set to visit Ladakh from July 12.
It may be recalled that both Chhewang and Jora had tendered their resignations on Sunday from the LAB, which, alongside the KDA, has been spearheading negotiations with the Centre over a four-point agenda Jora had clarified that while he was stepping back in a personal capacity, the Congress would continue to support the LAB.
Of the original four demands, the MHA has already addressed two: domicile and reservation rules. In its May 27 meeting, the Centre announced a new reservation policy for Ladakh, reserving 85 percent of government jobs for locals, and 33 percent reservation for women in the Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs). To protect Ladakh’s unique identity, the MHA had constituted the High Powered Committee, aimed at addressing cultural, linguistic, and strategic concerns stemming from the region’s sensitive location.
