News Brief
Ladakh Representatives Defer Hunger Strike Plan After 'Positive Talks' With Centre Over Key Demands Including Statehood
Government representative at a village in Ladakh (Representative Image)
Representatives from Ladakh have decided to postpone their hunger strike plan following a meeting with Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, held in Delhi on Tuesday (20 February).
The decision comes as a result of discussions regarding their demands, with the next meeting scheduled for 24 February.
During the meeting at the North Block, the Apex Body of Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance(KDA) engaged with a high-powered committee from the Union Home Ministry to address their grievances.
The focus was on Ladakh's aspirations for statehood, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and the formation of an exclusive Public Service Commission for the region, reported Economic Times.
After the meeting, a joint statement by ABL and KDA outlined the decision to thoroughly deliberate on these demands during the upcoming meeting on 24 February.
Additionally, a joint sub-committee has been formed to delve into the intricacies of Ladakh's issues and demands.
In light of these developments, the representatives have opted to temporarily suspend their hunger strike plan, expressing optimism for fruitful discussions in the next meeting.
Meanwhile, in Leh, innovator Sonam Wangchuk and other locals had planned a "fast unto death" to advocate for the region's demands.
On 3 February, Ladakh observed a complete shutdown as thousands of people had gathered in Leh with demands to protect its cultural identity, environment, job reservation for locals, and a parliamentary seat each for Leh and Kargil.
The ABL and KDA were formed in Leh and Kargil after 2019 when Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union territory from J&K to strive for the rights of the people across the region.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
