Jammu, Jan 14: Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Wednesday expressed hope for a positive outcome from the upcoming talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ladakh representatives, asserting that dialogue remains the best way to resolve all issues.
The MHA has decided to convene a meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh later this month. The committee is headed by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are jointly leading an agitation demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, are expected to participate.
The talks had earlier hit a deadlock last year following violence in Leh on September 24, which left four civilians dead and several others injured during a general strike demanding early dialogue with the Centre. Subsequently, Ladakh representatives held talks with an MHA sub-committee on October 22 after the Centre ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence and accepted a detailed memorandum of demands.
“Such meetings have been held from time to time. The MHA has called another meeting later this month, and I believe discussions should remain within the constitutional framework and in the interest of the nation,” Gupta told PTI Videos.
He said the Centre has paid special attention to Ladakh since it was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir and granted Union Territory status in 2019, adding that issues related to reservation and domicile were addressed last year.
Following an HPC meeting in May, the Home Ministry announced new reservation and domicile policies, reserving 85 percent jobs for locals and one-third seats in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women, while EWS reservation continues at 10 percent. (Agencies)
