The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has decided not to go ahead with the talks with the Central government over its demands of statehood for the Union Territory and inclusion of the region in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, citing the absence of normalcy in Leh.
Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has condemned the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who sat on a hunger strike to seek fulfilment of demands.
LAB has sought a judicial inquiry into the firing incident on September 24 that resulted in deaths of four people and injuries to several youth in Leh.
LAB Pulls Out From Talks With Central Government Over Statehood Demand, Inclusion Of Ladakh In Sixth Schedule
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has withdrawn from the talks with the High-Powered Committee (HPC) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which were scheduled on October 6, over demands of statehood and inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Summary
The LAB has withdrawn from scheduled talks with the Central government over demands for statehood for Ladakh and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
The decision was made due to the continuing lack of normalcy in Leh, with LAB expressing concerns about the current situation ahead of the meetings.
In pursuit of these demands, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk began a hunger strike on September 10. He was later arrested under the National Security Act, with the Central government accusing him of inciting violence against security forces and government property in Leh.
Deputy Chairman of LAB, Chering Dorjay, stated that they have decided not to continue the talks with the Central government due to the disturbance in Ladakh. “We made an announcement to call off the talks today at a press conference,” he said.
LAB member Mohammad Ramzan said that they have sought a judicial inquiry into the circumstances that led to the death of four people and injuries to several other people during the protests on statehood last week. “Several people have been arrested and implicated in false cases. We are seeking a judicial inquiry into the violence that was unleashed on people. The protests are being portrayed as anti-national, which is uncalled for,” he added.
The LAB asserts no warning was given before police and paramilitary forces fired on peaceful protesters.
The Ladakh Buddhist Association plans a memorial for the four killed. Doctors have confirmed upper-body gunshot wounds. The Kargil Democratic Alliance previously suggested talks with the government would falter after Wangchuk’s arrest.
The situation remained tense in Leh town on the sixth day today, with shops and business establishments remaining shut, while pedestrian and vehicular movement was thin on the roads.
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory on August 5, 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370. The LAB blames the Central government for unrest, linking violence to delays in meeting the demand for Sixth Schedule inclusion, which aims to grant district councils powers over land and jobs for locals.
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The other demands of the LAB and KDA include increasing the number of parliamentary seats to two from the existing one in Ladakh, and the establishment of a Public Service Commission (PSC) for expedited recruitment in the gazetted services.
Glen Phunchok, Organising Committee member of LAB, said that the “ firing was opened on the people without the approval of the local magistrate. A judicial inquiry is necessary to find out who gave the orders for firing, and as the situation remains grim and people continue to remain locked up, we can’t continue the talks in these circumstances.”
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