STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: In an extraordinary development, Government of India has finally formed the much awaited committee on Ladakh to discuss measures to protect Ladakh’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and its strategic importance, to ensure protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh, to discuss measures for inclusive development and employment generation in the region and to discuss measures related to empowerment of LAHDCs of Leh and Kargil.
“It has been decided to constitute a High Powered Committee (HPC) under the chairmanship of Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Gol for the Union Territory of Ladakh,” an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
The committee shall be chaired by Minister of State for Home, GoI, Nityanand Rai. The committee also has Lieutenant Governor, Union territory of Ladakh Radha Krishna Mathur, Member of Parliament (Ladakh) Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Chairman/CEC, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Chairman/CEC, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, Joint Secretary, D/o Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs, MHA, Director/ Deputy Secretary (Ladakh), D/o Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs, MHA (as Member Secretary), one nominated member from MHA as its members as per the order.
GoI has nominated members from Apex Body Leh also: Chairman, Apex Body, Leh Thupstan Chhewang, Shri Nawang Rigzin Jora (Ex-Minister, J&K; President, Ashraf Ali Barcha (President, Anjuman-e-Imamia; Shia body, Leh) Acharya Stanzin Wangtak (President, All Ladakh Gompa Association), and Thiksey Rinpoche. From Kargil Democratic Alliance/KDA: Asgar Ali Karablai (Co-Chairman, KDA ), Qamar Ali Akhon (Co-Chairman, KDA), Sajjad Kargili (Social Activist and Representative, Islamia School, Kargil) and Tsewang Nurboo (President, LBA, Kargil have been nominated into the committee.
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Ladakh welcomed the formation of a high powered committee by Government of India to discuss the issues raised by the leaders of Ladakh.
Ladakh Buddhist Association submitted its objection against the inclusion of Tsewang Nurboo as President LBA Kargil. An official release issued from LBA said that Skarma Dadul is recognized by LBA as President LBA Kargil and hence requested for the inclusion of Skarma Dadul instead of Tsewang Nurboo.