Tsewang Rigzin
LEH, Feb 10: Leh Apex Body said that it was not satisfied with the recent meeting held with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Ladakh’s long-pending demands, including Sixth Schedule status and Statehood.
Addressing media here, Apex Body Co-Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said no discussion was held on the draft proposal jointly submitted by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). Instead, he alleged, the Government repeatedly highlighted certain “disadvantages” of Sixth Schedule and Statehood for Ladakh, which, according to him, were factually incorrect. He added that the Government did not place any alternative proposal for Ladakh during the meeting.
Lakrook also expressed disappointment over the stand taken by KDA member Kunzes Dolma, who reportedly stated during the meeting that Ladakhis, particularly Buddhists in Kargil and Zanskar, were satisfied with the present Union Territory set-up and did not support the demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood. He alleged that she was allowed to make such statements by the authorities and attempted to project a lack of unity on Ladakh’s demands.
Terming this “unfortunate,” he further claimed that she misled the Government by stating that Government employees had reservations about the Sixth Schedule, which he said was completely false. “So far, not a single Government employee has approached the Leh Apex Body with such reservations,” he said.
He stressed that unity was crucial at this juncture and alleged that certain forces were attempting to destabilise Ladakh’s unity. He further claimed that those speaking against the Leh Apex Body and the Ladakh Buddhist Association were being given a free hand by the authorities to make statements without any restriction.
President of the Ladakh Gonpa Association, Gelong Stanzin Dorjay, who also attended the High-Powered Committee meeting, said he felt that Ladakh’s demands were not being taken seriously and reiterated that unity was essential at this stage.
Other Leh Apex Body members, including Anjuman-e-Imamia President Ashraf Ali Barcha, youth leader Padma Stanzin, and advocate Mustafa Haji, also spoke on the occasion. They expressed concern that Ladakh’s demands continued to be ignored despite loss of lives, injuries, and people being jailed during agitations.
The Leh Apex Body further alleged that its legal experts, who drafted the proposal, were not allowed to attend the meeting to provide clarifications.
Leh Apex Body leaders reiterated their firm stand on the demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood for Ladakh. Lakrook said that if the Government comes up with another proposal for Ladakh, Apex leaders will take the Government’s proposal to the people. He reminded that lives were lost for Sixth Schedule and Statehood, and that these demands have been raised unanimously for several years.
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