JAMMU, June 16: Months after making Ladakh a union territory, the Union Home Ministry has established direct contact with Leh Apex Body (LAB) chairman Thupstan Chhewang with Home Minister Amit Shah holding one-to-one meeting with him in the North Block during which he is understood to have agreed to give Sixth Schedule-like Constitutional protection to Ladakh under Article 371.
However, Shah is reported to be averse to consider the demand for grant of Statehood to Ladakh.
Chhewang told the reporter on telephone from New Delhi that his meeting with Shah in North Block was held in very cordial atmosphere.
“It was one-to-one meeting. I will shortly return to Leh and brief the Apex Body about outcome of the meeting. Then we will call the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and apprise them,” he said.
According to Chhewang, the Home Ministry is ready to grant Sixth Schedule like protections and even much more to Ladakh but under Article 371.
“Shah has committed that the Central Government is ready to grant Sixth Schedule like status to Ladakh under Article 371. He has promised even much more,” Chhewang said, adding the Union Home Ministry will be preparing draft on this which they will share with joint delegation of Apex Body and Kargil Alliance whenever such a meeting is called by the MHA.
Shah is, however, reported to have stated that grant of Statehood to Ladakh is not possible because of a variety of factors including very less population, voters etc. He was of the view that Union Territory was long pending demand of the people which was fulfilled by the Central Government on August 5, 2019.
“The Centre is even averse to grant of Legislature to Ladakh within the Union Territory,” sources pointed out.
However, according to sources, as far as demand for two Lok Sabha seats instead of present one and more employment opportunities, the MHA is ready for discussion whenever the large delegation of Ladakh is invited for talks.
Shah is said to have assured Chhewang that he will shortly call joint team of Apex Body and KDA for dialogue on their issues. He is reported to have said that the MHA is not opposed to the talks.
“While the Home Ministry is ready for Sixth Schedule-like status to Ladakh and discuss other demands raised by the Apex Body and KDA, it is not ready for any discussions on grant of Statehood to the Union Territory,” sources pointed out.
They said the Home Ministry wants LAB and KDA to drop the demand for Statehood.
This was the first meeting between the Union Home Ministry and the LAB representative on the issues of Ladakh during last nine and half months. Last meeting between representatives of LAB and KDA was held with Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on August 29, 2021 in Leh.
Initially, Rai hadn’t invited LAB and KDA for the talks but extended invitation to other organizations and individuals during his visit to Leh on August 28 prompting the two bodies to give call for bandh in Ladakh. However, Home Minister Amit Shah called up Thupstan Chhewang in the midnight after the bandh call after which Rai invited both the organizations for talks on August 29, 2021.
Rai had assured to set up a Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs for talks with LAB and KDA but such a Panel hasn’t been set up till date. The LAB and KDA meeting with Rai on August 29 was the last direct official meeting between representatives of Ladakh and the Union Home Ministry till Chhewang was called for talks by Amit Shah.
However, according to sources, backchannels remained active and LAB was reportedly conveyed by some of the officials that the Central Government is not ready to discuss the demand for grant of Statehood to Ladakh.
Representatives of LAB and KDA were now confident that they would be soon invited jointly for dialogue by the MHA.
As per sources, the LAB and KDA will take a joint decision on Shah’s approach towards their demands after a joint meeting on briefing by Thupstan Chhewang on his return to Leh.
They said Chhewang’s return to Leh could take some time as he is not keeping well and was undergoing medical tests.
