An influential organisation of Ladakh on Sunday withdrew its call for the boycott of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, after the Central government assured it that the demand for protection of language, demography, ethnicity, land and jobs of the locals will be considered positively within 15 days of the polls.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also assured a delegation of the People's Movement for Constitutional Safeguard Under Sixth Schedule for Ladakh that the central government is committed to empower the LAHDC of Leh and Kargil and would safeguard the interests of the people of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
In a joint statement, former Ladakh MPs Thiksay Rinpoche and Thupstan Chhewang, former Jammu and Kashmir minister Chhering Dorje and Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and G Kishan Reddy said the delegation was assured that all issues related to language, demography, ethnicity, land and jobs will be considered positively and taken care of. The Ministers on Sunday addressed media along with the leaders. Amit Shah had met the delegation on Saturday evening.
“A dialogue between a larger Ladakhi delegation comprising of representatives from Leh and Kargil districts under the aegis of Peoples Movement for Constitutional Safeguard Under Sixth Schedule for Ladakh and Union Home Ministry would commence after 15 days of the culmination of LAHDC, Leh elections. Any decision so reached in this connection would be in consultation with the representatives from Leh and Kargil,” the statement said. The statement said the central government is open to discuss protection of Ladakh’s language, demography, ethnicity, land and jobs under the 6th schedule of constitution and under other provisions while looking into issues related to Ladakhi people. “The delegation has agreed to withdraw its call for the boycott of the ensuing LAHDC, Leh elections and promised its wholesome support to the smooth conduct of these elections,” it said.
Rijiju said Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy would visit Ladakh on Monday and meet a cross section of people in the Union Territory to allay their apprehensions.
Chhewang said after the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and its bifurcation into two UTs, people of Ladakh were having lots of apprehensions about their future, land, culture and jobs since there is no longer any legislative body there.