Ladakh (PTI photo)
SRINAGAR: Ladakh groups held Friday an “informal” meeting with Union home ministry (MHA) officials in Leh, described it as positive and declared the two sides had finalised draft minutes of previous talks in Delhi on May 22.According to the finalised minutes, “while statehood will remain the long-term aspiration of Ladakh”, a Union Territory (UT)-level elected body with executive, financial and legislative powers” will be set up. Also discussed were constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under the framework of Article 371 with an agreement to pursue a customised model most suitable for the UT.Representatives of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the two main political groups in the region, were part of Friday’s talks. LAB member and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk did not attend as he was away in Delhi at a Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest.LAB and KDA had called a bandh in Ladakh on June 23 alleging draft minutes of the May meeting omitted an agreement on a proposed legislative body with authority over the bureaucracy as well as constitutional safeguards for Ladakh through a provision similar to Article 371. Friday’s talks were held to finalise the minutes of the May meeting. “There have been instances of invoking Article 371(A to J) and it was agreed that a customised sui generis model which is most suitable for Ladakh would be adopted. It was decided that a draft proposal covering the powers and functions (executive, financial and legislative) of this UT-level elected body….would be prepared for further discussion,” the minutes, released by LAB and KDA functionaries, read.Additional MHA secretary Prashant Sitaram Lokhande led Friday’s talks. Ladakh chief secretary Ashish Kundra was also present, as were Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook and KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai.“Today’s meeting ended on a note of optimism, with a consensus on the broad framework as agreed in the last meeting of May 22 in Delhi,” Kundra said. Haneefa described the meeting as “very fruitful”. “They have added all our points to the minutes.”LAB’s Lakrook expressed satisfaction. “The meeting was quite lengthy. Sticking points, especially the minutes, were discussed in great detail. Finally, we reached an agreement and all of us signed the minutes. They were almost in line with our expectations. Govt made considerable efforts to accommodate our sentiments,” Lakrook said, adding he and his colleagues urged the central officials to expedite formal negotiations to “reach a conclusion quickly”.KDA’s Karbalai echoed the contentment, saying the talks reflected the MHA’s seriousness in addressing Ladakh’s concerns. “Almost all our concerns were addressed. Earlier, we were discussing provisions under Article 371A to 371J. But now, they have agreed to provide Ladakh with the best possible constitutional safeguards through a customised model suited to the region,” Karbalai said.
