Not satisfied with the agenda and representation of the high-powered committee formed by the Union home ministry for union territory of Ladakh, two organisations from Leh and Kargil, which have also steered protests in the past over demands of statehood and protection of land and jobs, have called a meeting in Jammu on January 7.
On Monday, the ministry of home affairs had issued an order regarding constitution of a 17-member committee to “discuss measures to protect the region’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and its strategic importance”.
The committee will also discuss measures to ensure protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh, the order stated.
Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) — an amalgam of various political and religious parties of Kargil — and Leh Apex Body (LBA), which comprises Leh’s socioreligious and political parties, have called a joint meeting over the concerns that proper representation of the regions is not reflected in the order.
Qamar Ali Akhoon, co-chairperson of the KDA and one of the members chosen by the home ministry for the high-powered committee, said their demands of statehood and safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Constitution were not there in the agenda of the order.
He also said that there was a discrepancy over the number members of the KDA and the LBA in the committee. “I am not criticising the inclusion of anyone, but with just three members, the KDA’s representation is less,” he added.
“Similarly, there is not representation of Sunni Muslims in the committee,” he further said.
Tsering Dorjay, one of the representatives of the LBA , said, “We will react jointly after the meeting. Our main demand was protection under the sixth schedule of the Constitution, which is not in the order.”
He also said that Tsewang Nurboo, who the order mentioned as the president of LBA, Kargil, was not their member.
These organisations had on November 2 come together to hold a mega protest in the two towns of Ladakh to demand statehood for the union territory, separate Lok Sabha seats for its two regions and its inclusion under the Constitution’s sixth schedule to safeguard land, employment, and cultural identity of the local population.
The home ministry’s order also states that the committee will discuss measures for inclusive development and employment generation in the region besides empowerment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil.
The committee includes Nityanand Rai, minister of state for home; RK Mathur, lieutenant governor of Ladakh; Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, member of parliament from Ladakh; chairpersons/CEC of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh and Kargil; besides joint secretary, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh affairs; director/ deputy secretary (Ladakh) among others.
The committee members from Leh will be Thupstan Chhewang (LBA president and former MP), Nawang Rigzin Jora (former minister), Ashraf Ali Barcha (president, Anjuman-e-Imamia; Shia body, Leh), Acharya Stanzin Wangtak (president, All Ladakh Gompa Association), and Thiksey Rinpoche, Kushok Nawang Chamba Stanzin.
Asgar Ali Karbalai (working president of Territorial Congress Committee, Ladakh); Qamar Ali Akhoon (co-chairman, KDA, and senior NC Leader); Sajad Kargili (social activist and representative, Islamia School, Kargil) and Tsewang Nurboo (president, LBA, Kargil), will be the members from Kargil.
