Ladakh leadership drops statehood demand

Leh, Sep 11: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have dropped their demand for full statehood for Ladakh and are now seeking a full-fledged elected legislature with their own MLAs and Chief Minister, besides control over police and law and order, LAB chairman Chering Dorjey Lakruk said.
“We have abandoned the demand for statehood,” Dorjey said, explaining that the focus of the LAB and KDA was now on securing a full-fledged elected government within the existing Union Territory framework.
He said the proposed arrangement should include an elected Legislative Assembly, elected MLAs and a Chief Minister heading the government.
Dorjey said the elected government should also have control over police and law and order, which, he said, was an important part of the demand being placed before the Centre.
The development assumes significance against the backdrop of the ongoing talks between the Centre and representatives of the LAB and KDA over the future governance structure of Ladakh.
The Centre has been discussing a possible special constitutional arrangement for Ladakh, including an elected UT-level body. However, the Ladakh groups have been seeking wider legislative and executive powers for the elected institution.
Dorjey said that the next meeting between the Centre and representatives of the Ladakh groups has been scheduled for the first week of October.
The demand for control over police and law and order has been among the contentious issues in discussions with the Centre. Ladakh representatives have maintained that an elected government would not be fully empowered if key areas of governance remained outside its control.
The Centre’s proposed framework is still under discussion, and the final powers and structure of any elected body are yet to be settled. [KNT]