KDA seeks impartial probe into Leh violence, defends activist Sonam Wangchuk
Kargil (PTI): Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Thursday demanded an impartial probe into the clashes between protesters and security personnel in Leh town of Ladakh and asked the Union Territory administration to stop “witch hunting” and “harassment” of people.
It also defended climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was blamed by government for making "provocative statements" leading to mob violence, and expressed sympathies with the families of four slain protesters, describing them as “heroes of Ladakh”.
“Instead of handling the situation in a proper manner, the administration used excessive force on the unarmed protesters...we want a thorough probe into the violence and legal action against those who ordered the firing,” co-chairman of KDA Asgar Ali Karbalai told reporters here.
The Leh Apex Body and the KDA have been jointly spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of their demands including statehood for Ladakh and have held several rounds of talks with the government in the past.
Karbalai, who was flanked by other senior members of the KDA including Ladakh MP Hanifa Jan and prominent leader Sajjad Kargili, said whatever happened was unfortunate but the way the government handled the situation was like “rubbing salt into our wounds”.
“The UT administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs are equally responsible for the happenings. We have been agitating peacefully for the last more than five years in support of our four demands including statehood, extension of Sixth Schedule, public service commission and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil.
“We are holding hunger strikes, demonstrations and long marches but the government’s failure pushed the youth to the wall. No job was made available to the local youth and deliberate attempts were made to delay the talks,” he said.
After May 27 talks, the Centre promised next round within a month but “maintained dead silence” despite back-to-back hunger strikes – first in Kargil and later in Leh, he said.
Wangchuk-led hunger strike was going on since September 10 but instead of convening a meeting in near future, the Centre called for talks on October 6 when already 11 days of hunger strike have passed, Karbalai said.
“Two elderly participants fell seriously ill and had to be shifted to a hospital, leading to concern among the people,” he said.
“They are trying to save themselves by blaming Wangchuk and others. It is the failure of the UT and Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said, adding the government is claiming that they were apprehensive of violence but why necessary security measures were not taken in advance.
“We reject their charges blaming Wangchuk and others for the violence,” he said.
MP Hanifa Jan said the people of Ladakh felt ignored after the MHA failed to convene next round of talks.
“The government must stop harassment of youth, hold free and fair investigation and restart dialogue with all seriousness to resolve pending demands,” he said.
Kargili alleged that the failed policy of the government was responsible for all the happenings.
“People felt frustrated without jobs. They (BJP) have included the demand (for extension of Sixth Schedule) in their manifesto but never kept their promise,” he said, adding “we never endorsed violence but they need to act with wisdom and restart the dialogue”.
He said the narrative to blame Wangchuk and others is “baseless and not acceptable to us”.
The KDA leaders also accused the government of witch-hunting, harassment of people associated with Leh Apex Body and mass detention of youth.
The government should immediately put an end to all this and restart dialogue with the people of Ladakh in a sincere manner, they said.
They said the people of Ladakh stand with the bereaved families of four persons who lost their lives.
“They are our heroes and their sacrifice will be remembered for ever,” Karbalai said.
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Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
