Leh: Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-chair Chering Dorje Lakruk said on Sunday that representatives from Ladakh will hold talks with the Home Ministry sub-committee in Delhi on October 22.
Three representatives each from the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) will participate in the talks with Ladakh MP Mohammad Hanifa Jan, Lakruk told reporters here. During the talks, the talks will focus on their primary demand for statehood and security measures for the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
“””The Home Ministry informed us that the sub-committee meeting is scheduled for October 22 and both the LAB and the KDA have been invited,”” he said.” We welcome the decision by the Government of India to invite us and look forward to a positive outcome of the talks.
Widespread violent protests in Leh on September 24 when the lab called for a shutdown to continue talks with the Centre on demands for statehood to Ladakh and an extension of the sixth schedule.
Four people were killed and several others injured in clashes between protesters and security personnel, while more than 50 people were detained for their alleged involvement in the riots.
Activist Sonam Wangchuck, the main face of the movement, was also detained under the harsh NSA. The maximum detention period under the NSA is 12 months, although it can be cancelled even earlier.
According to government sources, talks were proposed on July 20, but no response was received. LABs and KDAs are leading the movement for the extension of statehood and the sixth schedule in the union territory.
