Kargil, Jun 26: Barely three days after the leaders of different political parties of J&K held talks with the Prime Minister, the leadership of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has received an invitation from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for talks with MoS Home on July 01 in New Delhi.
The MHA had in January this year announced the formation of a committee headed by MoS Home GK Reddy to hold deliberations with the leaders based in the twin districts of Ladakh about the demands and possibilities of UT’s inclusion into the 6th schedule.
A year after the central government revoked Article 370 and 35-A, the senior leaders from Leh and Kargil districts in Ladakh had named Apex Body and KDA respectively to represent them.
The Apex Body in Leh took a U-turn a few days back from demanding the 6th schedule to a UT with legislature while the KDA has since its formation been demanding the pre-August 05, 2019 status, and a full-fledged state for Ladakh.
Sources said the members of KDA have received an invitation from the MHA for talks with Reddy on July 01.
Former minister and the co-chairman of KDA, Qamar Ali Akhoon while confirming the invitation from the central government said “our stand is very clear and we continue to seek the same which is the restoration of pre-August 05, 2019 status, and a full-fledged state with the legislature.”
Akhoon said that their stand will not change, no matter what the circumstances, as KDA is also among the petitioners before the Supreme Court of India demanding the restoration of Article 370 and 35-A (pre-August 05, 2019 status).
“Our members heading to New Delhi will include social, political, student, youth, religious and other leaders associated with KDA,” he said.
He informed that the meeting is aimed to hold deliberations related to the situation in the region post-August 05, 2019.
Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan, who is also part of the visiting team, said that the demand of KDA is very clear.
“We demand the restoration of Article 370 and 35-A; and now when the matter is sub-justice, the central government, if sincere, must give full-fledged status of a state to Ladakh,” he said.
Khan said that Apex Body has changed its stance from demanding the 6th schedule to a UT with Legislature but with UT status the legislature has no power. “The demand of KDA is clear and we demand a full-fledged state for Ladakh,” he said. (With inputs from KNO)
