Days After Unrest, MHA Extends Invitations To Ladakh Leaders For Talks On October 22

After days of violent protests, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended an invitation to representatives of Ladakh for a meeting with the sub-committee on October 22.

Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-chairman Chering Dorje Lakruk on Sunday said that they will attend the meeting and hold talks with the government for their persisting demands of statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

While talking to the media, Lakruk welcomed the move to hold talks and said that three representatives each of LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), along with Ladakh MP Mohd Haneefa Jan, will take part in the talks with a focus on their primary demand of statehood and safeguards for the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

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"We were informed by the Home Ministry that a meeting of the sub-committee is scheduled for October 22, and both LAB and KDA are invited to it. We welcome the decision of the government of India to invite us and look forward to the positive outcome of the dialogue," he said.

The invitation comes after widespread violent protests occurred in Leh on September 24 during a shutdown called by LAB to advance talks with the Centre on the demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.

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As many as four people were killed while several others were injured in the clashes between protesters and security personnel, while over 50 people were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in rioting.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, the main face of the agitation, was also detained under the stringent NSA, which empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner "prejudicial to the defence of India".

(With PTI Inputs)