Arteev Sharma
Jammu: With the Centre yet to make public the draft proposal based on the consensus reached between Ladakh representatives and MHA officials, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have decided to launch fresh district-level mobilisation after Independence Day, most likely from August 17, to mount pressure on the Centre for an early resumption of “official talks” on Ladakh’s long-pending demands.
Amid the delays in fresh talks between the two sides, Ladakh’s lone Lok Sabha member Mohmad Haneefa Jan also met the Union Home Minister in New Delhi yesterday and demanded that the draft proposal based on the consensus reached between the two sides should be made public without any delay.
“The Minutes of Meeting have already been finalised and signed by both sides, but the draft proposal is still awaited. It should be brought forward and placed in the public domain at the earliest so that the High Powered Committee (HPC) can consider and approve it without further delay,” Jan said.
A senior LAB leader, who wished not to be named, told The News Now that they have approached the MHA through informal and back channels for resumption of talks but were yet to receive a response. “This time, we want official talks with the MHA rather than an informal dialogue like the one held in Leh last month on July 3,” the leader said.
The LAB leader said the dialogue could be held through an HPC or the sub-committee constituted by the MHA, but it should have an “official character to bring clarity on the core issues”.
The leader added that district-level mobilisation would begin around August 17, while the programme in Leh town would be scheduled later in view of the ongoing visit of the Dalai Lama.
A senior KDA leader also confirmed that the two organisations were finalising their next course of action after Independence Day, saying the delay in the MHA’s draft proposal had stalled the dialogue process.
It may be placed here that the LAB had held back submission of its proposal for a UT-level elected body with financial, executive, legislative and administrative powers until the MHA makes its own draft public.
During an informal meeting with the LAB and KDA in Leh on July 3, an MHA team had reportedly given broad indications about a proposed UT-level body. The two organisations had earlier signed the minutes of the May 22 meeting held in New Delhi and chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
Sources said the MHA was working on a draft framework for the proposed Ladakh body as well as seven new Autonomous Hill Development Councils announced for the Union Territory.
The LAB, however, has maintained that its demand is for a UT-level elected body with full powers and that the Hill Councils were never part of its demands. It has argued that granting additional powers to the councils could affect the proposed UT-level body.
On July 3 this, the representatives of the MHA and the LAB-KDA sub-committee signed the minutes of the May 22 meeting where both sides reached an in-principle consensus on establishing a customised sui generis governance model for Ladakh under Article 371. The consensus reached between two sides was for a future administrative and political framework for Ladakh, proposing a Union Territory-level elected body vested with legislative, executive and financial powers.
Meanwhile, Ladakh Lok Sabha member Mohmad Haneefa Jan had a “detailed and fruitful” meeting with the Union Home Minister on Tuesday and raised several political, administrative and developmental issues concerning Ladakh.
Jan reminded the Union Home Minister that during the recent discussions between MHA and representatives of Ladakh, represented by KDA and LAB, a consensus was reached on several important issues concerning constitutional safeguards and a democratic setup for Ladakh. “The Minutes of Meeting were subsequently finalised and signed by members from both sides. However, the Draft Proposal based on this consensus is still awaited. I urged that it be brought forward and placed in the public domain at the earliest, so that the High-Powered Committee can consider and approve it without further delay,” Jan said after the meeting.
He also reiterated the demand for a Ladakh Public Service Commission (LPSC), fast track completion of pending government recruitment and two Parliamentary constituencies for the Union Territory.
He also sought creation of Sankoo-Suru and Shakar-ChiktanShargole as separate districts, besides Nayabats in major blocks of Kargil, their upgradation into tehsils and additional sub-divisions in remote and densely populated areas of Leh and Kargil.
Jan also urged the Home Minister to ensure early submission of the Justice B.S. Chauhan Committee report to provide relief to affected families.
Jan claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah gave a “very patient and positive hearing” to all these issues and assured that the concerns raised would be looked into on priority.
