KNS Special Correspondent
New Delhi, Oct 16 (KNS): The Centre's negotiations with Ladakh's key political and civil society groups remained inconclusive on Thursday, with the next round of talks slated to be held in the national capital on October 22, even as the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) rejected the draft proposal presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and demanded a revised one.
According to official sources close to the development who informed news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), the MHA placed a 15-page draft before the Ladakhi representatives outlining a possible way forward on the region's long-pending demands, while the LAB and KDA tabled their own draft. Official sources said the two documents differed on key issues, including the nature of constitutional safeguards, and no consensus could be reached.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the LAB and KDA, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, BJP leader Tashi Gyalson and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil Chief Executive Councillor Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon.
Speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) over the phone, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said, "We also shared our draft with the MHA, which gave a presentation on its draft. There were gaps between the two drafts and there was a lack of consensus. We expect a fresh response from the MHA to our draft to reach a consensus. We will also study and prepare our response to the MHA draft."
Lakrook asserted that the demand for a legislature for Ladakh and special constitutional safeguards remained non-negotiable. "We stand by the understanding reached in the previous meetings. We hope the Centre keeps its promise," he said.
Wangchuk described the meeting as a continuation of the dialogue rather than a failure but flagged the wide differences between the two proposals.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"The MHA draft was not satisfactory. We expect a revised draft to be shared by the MHA with Ladakhi groups by October 18, given the huge differences between the two. We hope the MHA will narrow down the differences before the October 22 talks. Otherwise, we were perplexed to see the MHA draft," he said.
The KDA also rejected the Centre's proposal as inadequate, with its co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai saying it did not reflect the aspirations of the people of Ladakh. "It does not match the demands of Ladakhis. We will continue to seek democratic and constitutional rights and guarantees," Karbalai said.
Gyalson said the discussions were aimed at reaching a resolution after years of deliberations, and that the meeting considered the MHA's 15-page draft alongside suggestions submitted by the LAB and KDA. The next round will be held in New Delhi on October 22, he added.
Ladakh was made a separate Union Territory in August 2019 after the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status and reorganised the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. Since then, the LAB and KDA have been at the forefront of the demand for statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, safeguards for local employment and land rights, and a legislature for the region.
The Centre had indicated in July this year that it was considering a customised constitutional arrangement for Ladakh, including a possible framework under Article 371 and a legislature for the region. Thursday's meeting, however, indicated that the two sides are yet to agree on the specifics, with all eyes now on the October 22 round. (KNS)
Politics,Education,Business,Opinion,Legal,Crime,Weather,Technology,City,Tourism,Sports,Environment,Health,National,International,Entertainment,Condolence,