<p>Srinagar: After several rounds of inconclusive discussions between Ladakh leaders and the Centre in recent years, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited representatives from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for a fresh round of talks in New Delhi on January 15.</p><p>The MHA issued a statement confirming that the meeting will take place at 11:30 am in North Block, New Delhi. Both LAB and KDA are umbrella organizations representing various social, religious, political, and student groups from the Ladakh region.</p><p>Sources said the meeting will be chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai with senior officials such as Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Joint Secretary for Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh in attendance.</p><p>Chering Dorjay Lakruk, a member of LAB, said they will hold a meeting with the KDA on January 14 in New Delhi to finalize the issues to be taken up by them at the meeting next day with the MHA officials.</p>.After son questions I.N.D.I.A. bloc relevance, Farooq Abdullah defends alliance's 'importance in democracy'.<p>The last meeting of LAB and KDC with the Center on December 3, 2024 remained inconclusive. Ladakh’s demands for increased autonomy and constitutional protections have been growing since August 2019, when the Centre reorganized Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories</p><p>The Ladakh leaders' four-point demand include statehood, Sixth Schedule status along the lines of some northeastern states to protect tribal identity and rights, environmental safeguards, the establishment of a Public Service Commission (PSC) to facilitate timely recruitment of gazetted officers, and two Lok Sabha seats—one each for Leh and Kargil districts—to enhance parliamentary representation.</p><p>Last month the Center had proposed 95% reservation in government jobs for locals in Ladakh, one-third reservation for women in hill councils and had agreed to address concerns regarding land-related matters.</p><p>The Centre had also proposed to work on a draft to ensure “constitutional safeguards” to preserve the land and culture of Ladakh and also agreed to declare Urdu and Bhoti official languages of Ladakh.</p>
<p>Srinagar: After several rounds of inconclusive discussions between Ladakh leaders and the Centre in recent years, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited representatives from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for a fresh round of talks in New Delhi on January 15.</p><p>The MHA issued a statement confirming that the meeting will take place at 11:30 am in North Block, New Delhi. Both LAB and KDA are umbrella organizations representing various social, religious, political, and student groups from the Ladakh region.</p><p>Sources said the meeting will be chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai with senior officials such as Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Joint Secretary for Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh in attendance.</p><p>Chering Dorjay Lakruk, a member of LAB, said they will hold a meeting with the KDA on January 14 in New Delhi to finalize the issues to be taken up by them at the meeting next day with the MHA officials.</p>.After son questions I.N.D.I.A. bloc relevance, Farooq Abdullah defends alliance's 'importance in democracy'.<p>The last meeting of LAB and KDC with the Center on December 3, 2024 remained inconclusive. Ladakh’s demands for increased autonomy and constitutional protections have been growing since August 2019, when the Centre reorganized Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories</p><p>The Ladakh leaders' four-point demand include statehood, Sixth Schedule status along the lines of some northeastern states to protect tribal identity and rights, environmental safeguards, the establishment of a Public Service Commission (PSC) to facilitate timely recruitment of gazetted officers, and two Lok Sabha seats—one each for Leh and Kargil districts—to enhance parliamentary representation.</p><p>Last month the Center had proposed 95% reservation in government jobs for locals in Ladakh, one-third reservation for women in hill councils and had agreed to address concerns regarding land-related matters.</p><p>The Centre had also proposed to work on a draft to ensure “constitutional safeguards” to preserve the land and culture of Ladakh and also agreed to declare Urdu and Bhoti official languages of Ladakh.</p>