Leh Apex Body Pulls From Talks With Centre, Make THESE, MHA Responds

Leh: The Leh Apex Body has withdrawn from talks with the Centre over its statehood and other demands for the Union Territory, days after violence in Ladakh and the arrest of activist Sonam Wangchuk.According

to reports, the Leh Apex Body has snubbed talks with the MHA until peace is restored in the region. It also wants the government's action against protesters, including Sonam Wangchuk, to be scrapped.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly inciting violent clashes during statehood protests in Leh.He is also being probed over his alleged links with Pakistani operatives after his recent visit to Pakistan, foreign funding violations, among other charges. Wangchuk is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail.

MHA Says Open For Dialogue At Any Time

The Union Home Ministry, after the Leh Apex Body dismissed talks with the Centre, said that it has always been open for dialogue on Ladakh matters with the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) at any time and would "continue to welcome the discussion" through the High Powered Committee or any such platform.The Ministry said that the dialogue mechanism has yielded good results and expressed confidence that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in the near future."The Government has always been open for dialogues on Ladakh matters with Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) at any time. We would continue to welcome the discussion with ABL and KDA through the HPC on Ladakh or any such platform," the MHA statement reads."The dialogue mechanism established with Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) through the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh has yielded good results till date in the form of increased reservations to the Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh, providing women reservation in LAHDCs and protection to local languages," it added.It further mentioned that the process of recruitment for 1800 posts in government has already commenced in the Union Territory of Ladakh."We are confident that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in near future," it said.

Restrictions Continue In Leh

Days after violent protests on September 24, prohibitions under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023 continue to be imposed in Leh.A total of 44 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals.Among those arrested is Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist and advocate for the implementation of the 6th Schedule in Ladakh. He had been on a hunger strike, which he ended just as the violence broke out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOiBg0Rv4lw&t=172s

Assembling five or more persons is prohibited in the district; no procession, rally, or march is to be carried out without prior written approval.People of Ladakh have been demanding the inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution contains Article 244(2) and 275(1), which reads, "Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram."Later on September 26, the police fired during the protests, leading to the deaths. Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and is currently being held in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan. He has been accused of inciting violence.A day earlier, the JKPCC President, Tariq Hameed Karra, addressed the Ladakh protests.Speaking to mediapersons, he claimed that this ongoing agitation is a result of five years of deceit and unfulfilled commitments."The current agitation is a result of the deceit of the last five years and the unfulfillment of commitments..." Karra told reporters.During the discussion of the Ladakh agitation and its resulting violence, Karra alleged that the current protesters were the same individuals who had celebrated the abrogation of Article 370 and had been utilised by the government during that time."Today, we want to address a very sensitive and nationally significant issue: the situation in Ladakh. Four people have already died, and around 90 have been injured... Those protesting against the Government of India and local administration are the same individuals who were used by the government during the abrogation of Article 370. They were happy when Article 370 was abrogated..." said Karra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AfrwkeUBgM

With inputs from ANI