Srinagar: The dialogue process between the Centre and representatives of Ladakh have resumed, with the next sub-committee meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on October 22.
Three members each from Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, along with the Lok Sabha member from Ladakh and a lawyer, will participate in the meeting.
Relations between the Centre and representatives of Ladakh witnessed a thaw following the Ministry of Home Affairs' announcement of a judicial probe, led by a former Supreme Court justice into the incidents of September 24, when four people were killed and several others injured during protests in Leh.
"We got an invite for a sub-committee meeting on Saturday evening. As they had accepted our major demand of a judicial probe into the killings, we decided to participate," co-chairman of ABL, Cheering Dorjay, told ET. He said they will focus on the demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, among other issues.
"We will also raise the demand for release of detainees, compensation for the slain and injured people and a complete stop to the harassment and arrests of people," said Dorjay. He said 25 people continue to remain in judicial detention, but no fresh arrests were made over the past few days.
"We expect the government to fulfil our demands soon, without delay," said Dorjay. The ABL members expect the sub-committee meeting would be followed by a high-powered committee meeting immediately. "Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance will jointly attend the sub-committee meeting. We are meeting for statehood and Sixth Schedule, justice for the September 24 victims, and release of detainees, including Sonam Wangchuk. We believe only genuine dialogue can restore trust and fulfil Ladakh's aspirations," said Sajad Kargili of KDA.
Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory from J&K in August 2019, when the BJP-led central government abrogated Article 370 and 35 (A). People in Leh, including Wangchuk, had welcomed the decision, but Kargil had protested against it. However, within a year, both Kargil and Leh joined hands to strive for statehood, inclusion in Sixth Schedule, two Lok Sabha seats and a separate public service commission for the region. The representatives of Ladakh organised several protests over the years and were angry about the delay in the dialogue process. On September 24, the protests turned violent. Police detained around 80 people following the protests. This is when the representatives of Ladakh decided to stay away from the dialogue with the dispensation in New Delhi till their demands were met.
Three members each from Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, along with the Lok Sabha member from Ladakh and a lawyer, will participate in the meeting.
Relations between the Centre and representatives of Ladakh witnessed a thaw following the Ministry of Home Affairs' announcement of a judicial probe, led by a former Supreme Court justice into the incidents of September 24, when four people were killed and several others injured during protests in Leh.
"We got an invite for a sub-committee meeting on Saturday evening. As they had accepted our major demand of a judicial probe into the killings, we decided to participate," co-chairman of ABL, Cheering Dorjay, told ET. He said they will focus on the demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, among other issues.
"We will also raise the demand for release of detainees, compensation for the slain and injured people and a complete stop to the harassment and arrests of people," said Dorjay. He said 25 people continue to remain in judicial detention, but no fresh arrests were made over the past few days.
"We expect the government to fulfil our demands soon, without delay," said Dorjay. The ABL members expect the sub-committee meeting would be followed by a high-powered committee meeting immediately. "Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance will jointly attend the sub-committee meeting. We are meeting for statehood and Sixth Schedule, justice for the September 24 victims, and release of detainees, including Sonam Wangchuk. We believe only genuine dialogue can restore trust and fulfil Ladakh's aspirations," said Sajad Kargili of KDA.
Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory from J&K in August 2019, when the BJP-led central government abrogated Article 370 and 35 (A). People in Leh, including Wangchuk, had welcomed the decision, but Kargil had protested against it. However, within a year, both Kargil and Leh joined hands to strive for statehood, inclusion in Sixth Schedule, two Lok Sabha seats and a separate public service commission for the region. The representatives of Ladakh organised several protests over the years and were angry about the delay in the dialogue process. On September 24, the protests turned violent. Police detained around 80 people following the protests. This is when the representatives of Ladakh decided to stay away from the dialogue with the dispensation in New Delhi till their demands were met.
