Omar Abdullah Urges Ladakh Leaders to Seek Written Assurance from Centre

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday advised leaders of the ongoing Ladakh agitation not to depend on verbal assurances from the Central government, urging them instead to secure commitments in writing.

Speaking on the matter, Mr. Abdullah said he was offering the advice in the spirit of a friend and elder brother. He pointed to Jammu and Kashmir's own experience, noting that statehood was promised immediately after the assembly elections but has not been restored even after nearly two years.

"Do not trust the verbal promises of the Centre. We have suffered it on the demand of Statehood. We were promised Statehood immediately after the assembly elections. Around two years have already passed," he said.

Making a hand-folded appeal to the agitating leaders, Mr. Abdullah said they should seek a signed and written affidavit from the Centre. Until Ladakh receives something in writing, he cautioned, the region will not achieve anything.

His remarks follow talks held on September 9 between Ladakh representatives and the Centre. The delegations included members of socio-religious organisations under the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

Although the Centre described the talks as successful, both the LAB and the KDA remain sceptical. The two groups have decided to intensify their protests to coincide with the first anniversary of the death of four civilians on September 24 last year.

The LAB and KDA are demanding a draft paper outlining the promises made by the Centre regarding the grant of special status under special provisions of Article 371.

On Tuesday, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook and KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai indicated that peaceful protests would be held ahead of the first anniversary of the September 24 violence, which left four people dead and around 90 injured last year.