Srinagar | WTNS | Jan 07:In a significant development, the Leh Apex body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) Saturday decided not to participate in the proposed meeting of High Power Committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stating the agenda for the meeting excludes the points being advocated by the two bodies of Leh and Kargil.

As per the reports of Wilayat Times, A KDA member told that a meeting of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance was held at Jammu in the light of the High-Powered Committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

“In the meeting, which was attended by all the members of the LAB and KDA it was decided that they will not participate in the proposed meeting as the agenda set out for discussion excludes the issues which both bodies have been advocating,” he said, adding that the meeting further clarified that both the bodies were ready to participate in any meeting which includes four-point agenda set out by them for discussion.”

Members of both APEX Body and the KDA participated in the meeting and unanimously resolved as under:-

1. The Leh APEX Body and the KDA decided not to accept the formation of the High-Powered Committee and attend any meeting conducted under the aegis of the Committee as the said Committee has not been mandated to discuss issues raised by the APEX and the KDA. However, it was resolved that both the bodies will agree to participate in any meeting headed by a committee which is empowered to discuss the four issues in question, i.e (1.) Statehood for UT Ladakkh (2.) Constitutional Safeguard under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India in order to protect the interest of the Tribal People of Ladakh. (3.) Formation of Public Service Commission and Reservation of Jobs for youth of Ladakh. (4.) Creation of two separate parliamentary constituencies for Leh and Kargil.

2. The meeting further strongly objected to the composition of members of the High-Powered Committee representing Leh APEX Body and KDA as the government has arbitrarily excluded and included members without consultation with the APEX Body and the KDA. It was further resolved that the government should include all the names as proposed by Leh APEX and KDA body in the year 2021 as per Home Ministry’s instruction, which are as under: –

Panel of names of the APEX Body are:-

i. Venerable Thiksey Rinpochhe

ii. Thupstan Chhewang Ex Member of Parliament of Ladakh

iii. Tsering Dorjey Lakruk

iv. Acharya Stanzin Wangtak President LGA Leh.

v. Shri Nawang Rigzin Jora, Ex Minister J&K

vi. Shri Ashraf Ali Barcha, President Anjuman Imamia

vii. Dr. Abdul Qayum, President Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam

Members of the Kargil Democratic Alliance: –

i. Shri Qamar Ali Akhone Ex. Minister

ii. Shri Asgar Ali Karbalai Ex MLA

iii. Shri Sajjad Hussain Kargili Representative Jamiat Ulema Isna Asharia

iv. Shri Shiekh Bashir Shakir, Vice Chairman IKMT Kargil

v. Agha Syed Ahmad Rizvi Anjuman Sahab Zaman

vi. Agha Syed Mohammad Shah Anjuman Noorbakshia

vii. Haji Ghulam Nabi Var Anjuman e Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat

viii. Skarma Dadul , Ladakh Buddhist Association Kargil.

3. It was further resolved in the meeting that the agitation for the resolution of the above four issues shall continue till our genuine demands are fulfilled. In this connection, the APEX and KDA propose to have protest rally at Jammu on the 15th of January followed by Dharna Protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 3rd week of February 2023. It may also be clarified that both the bodies have decided to intensify the agitation during 2023.

He said that the four-point agenda proposed for the discussion by them included full fledged statehood for Ladakh, constitutional safeguard under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, recruitment and job Reservation for the youth of Ladakh and creation of two separate Parliamentary Constituencies for Leh and Kargil.

The meeting, as per the member, proposed that the formation of the committee for which the Home Ministry had sought panel of names in the year 2021 should be included.

“It was further resolved in the meeting that the agitation for the resolution of the above four issues shall continue till our demands are fulfilled. In this connection, both the bodies propose to have a protest rally at Jammu on January 15 followed by Dharna Protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in 3rd week of February. It may also be clarified that both the bodies have decided to intensify the agitation during 2023,” the member said.