Kargil, Mar 31: In a new development towards resolving the longstanding issues of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to submit a revised proposal following a meeting between a senior Ladakh leader and an MHA functionary.

However, a senior leader from KDA told Voice of Ladakh that there has been no official communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs yet, and the news about the meeting next week is just speculation. Another source from KDA said that the meeting of the Apex Body leader with the MHA functionary was purely personal. However, if there is any development in talks between Ladakh leaders and MHA, meetings will be held to decide the members for the committee to talk with MHA.

According to news reports, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig BD Mishra (Retired) also met Union Home Secretary A K Bhalla in New Delhi while the LAB has called a meeting with KDA leaders shortly to draft the proposal before submission to the Union Home Ministry.

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A news report said that a 30-member delegation of LAB initially met the Lieutenant Governor in Leh and briefed him on a host of issues, including their four-point agenda, which included Statehood for Ladakh, Constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule status, two Parliamentary seats for the UT (one each for Leh and Kargil), and employment opportunities for local youth. They also discussed other issues with Mishra.

Later, a senior functionary of LAB was called for a meeting by the MHA top brass in New Delhi, in which it was decided that the LAB and KDA will submit a fresh proposal to the Union Home Ministry, listing their major issues. After this, the two bodies, which have been agitating for a long time, will be called for dialogue.