Grant Statehood To Ladakh, Restore Article 370: Kargil Democratic Alliance To Centre

This came after the members of the KDA, which comprises political and religious leaders, civil society members and traders, attended a meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) here.

Asgar Ali Karbalai (ANI Photo)

New Delhi: The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Thursday demanded a separate statehood status for Ladakh besides restoration of Article 370 and 35A.

This came after the members of the KDA, which comprises political and religious leaders, civil society members and traders, attended a meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) here.

KDA co-chairperson and former MLA Asgar Ali Karbalai after the meeting said that they had two “clear agendas - the restoration of Article 370 and 35A and full-fledged statehood for Ladakh”.

“We discussed these with the Union Home Minister for two and a half hours. More meetings are to be followed to discuss this,” he added.

KDA co-convenor and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Qamar Ali Akhoon, who also attended the meeting, echoed similar sentiments on the issue.

“Our agenda focused on the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. We also told that we were against division but were in favour of the state. We don't consider UT. We also discussed development,” ANI quoted Akhoon as saying.

The meeting assumes significance as the Central government had earlier on June 24 called the first all-party meeting involving leaders from Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the meeting, said his government is fully committed to the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir and holding the assembly polls in the region.

The Centre had earlier on August 5, 2019, scrapped Articles 370 and 35A, which granted special status and special privileges to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.