MHA ignoring Ladakh demands on statehood, Sixth Schedule, Attempts underway to divide Leh and Kargil, warns KDA
Kargil, Jan 3, KNT: Kargil Democratic Alliance leader Asghar Ali Karbalai on Saturday alleged that the Ministry of Home Affairs has virtually discarded the draft proposals submitted by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance on statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.
Addressing a public gathering in Kargil, Karbalai said that following the violence of September 24 in Leh, the MHA had invited representatives of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargilr Democratic Alliance for talks. During the meeting, the MHA had asked the two bodies to jointly prepare a draft on their two core demands, statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards.
He said the draft was submitted on October 17, but since then there has been no response from the MHA. Karbalai alleged that the ministry has gone into slumber and is deliberately testing the patience of the people of Ladakh while using various methods to intimidate and suppress the democratic movement.
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The KDA leader as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust warned that the MHA was trying to divide the people of Ladakh by creating rifts between Leh and Kargil and between Buddhists and Muslims. He urged people to remain vigilant and not fall prey to what he termed as tactics aimed at weakening the unity of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.
Karbalai alleged that the Centre was deliberately ignoring the written proposals submitted by Ladakh representatives and recently created new issues to derail the joint struggle. He said while people are frustrated, they should not lose patience, asserting that Ladakhis will continue their peaceful fight for their rights.
Referring to an incident in Khalsi area of Leh, Karbalai said attempts were made to give the issue a communal colour by labelling it as love jihad. He said anyone found guilty must face the law, but urged people to remain united and not allow such incidents to divide society.
He demanded the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk and 70 others, a grant of general amnesty, and compensation to the families of those killed and injured in the September 24 incident. Karbalai warned that the government should not push people to the streets by ignoring their legitimate demands. [KNT]
