LG admits discontent in Ladakh over ‘imbalanced’ representation in talks with Centre
Jammu, Nov 19 (PTI) Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Wednesday acknowledged that some people are unhappy with what they see as “imbalanced” representation in the ongoing dialogue with the Centre, but expressed hope that all issues would be resolved through discussions.
He lauded the Jammu and Kashmir Police for busting a white-collar terror network and averting major attacks in the country, and suggested stern action against those found involved in such conspiracies.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Gupta said the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had prepared a 29-page draft proposal of their demands as a follow-up to the last meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sub-committee.
“The MHA had asked them to prepare a draft proposal of their demands. It is natural that when we sit together, many things will come out of it,” the lt governor said.
However, he admitted that some people were upset with the “imbalance” in representation in the talks with the Centre. “I have given my report to the MHA, which is directly handling the matter, so let them sit and discuss it,” he said.
Former president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), Tondup Tsewang Chhospa, had recently voiced concern over what he termed an “imbalance in the composition of Ladakhi representatives” holding talks with the Centre on the region’s key demands like statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Chhospa said the majority of representatives in the ongoing talks were from the Muslim community, while the Buddhist community was under-represented. He warned that such an “imbalance” could limit the chances of the Buddhist community’s cultural, social and regional perspectives being adequately reflected in the dialogue process.
