Ladakh: Ladakh representatives, including Ladakh’s Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), have called off their strike after the Government of India agreed to discuss key demands, such as granting statehood to Ladakh, providing constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, and establishing an exclusive Public Service Commission for Ladakh. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 24th.
LAB & KDA is a collective representing several social, religious, political and student organisations of Leh and Kargil, which has been fighting for statehood and safeguards to land rights and jobs for the locals since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constituion.
In a statement, LAB and KDA said that they have called off the hunger strike scheduled for Tuesday after the government agreed to discuss the key demands.
“In view of this significant development, we decided to drop, for time being, our plan to go on hunger strike from tomorrow,” reads the statement.
The meeting was attended by Nityanand Rai, Minister State Home Affairs, along with 14 members of Ladakh delegation.
The prolonged demands of Ladakh were once a part of the erstwhile state of J&K.