Srinagar, Oct 24: The proposed talks between the Union Home Ministry and representatives of Ladakh failed to take place on October 22 amid differences among civil society groups over the Centre’s 32-page draft proposal on constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.
The meeting was scheduled in New Delhi to discuss the draft shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) during a meeting in Leh on October 15.
The LAB and KDA had rejected the proposal, describing it as a departure from assurances and commitments made by the Centre during previous rounds of talks.
The developments have coincided with a widening rift among civil society groups over the representation of Ladakh in negotiations with the Centre.
The Civil Society Forum of Ladakh (CSFL), a Leh-based group comprising former MP and BJP leader Thupstan Chhewang, former Leh Hill Council chief executive councillor Rigzen Spalbar, former legislator Tsering Samphel and representatives associated with Buddhist religious institutions, has questioned the LAB and KDA’s claim to represent the entire region.
In a joint statement, the forum urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take note of the situation, alleging that repeated changes in positions and delays had created a trust deficit.
“The LAB and KDA no longer represent the inclusive voice of all districts,” the forum said.
It alleged that the original agenda of constitutional safeguards for land, jobs, culture and the environment had been sidelined and that the dialogue was increasingly dominated by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the KDA.
The forum called for panchayat elections and greater powers for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in all eight districts until a constitutional settlement is reached.
It said elected hill councils with adequate powers could help protect land, culture, natural resources, recruitment, trade, tourism and mining-related interests.
The CSFL also backed the view that establishing a Union Territory-level democratic institution with constitutional safeguards modelled on Article 371 would be a complex exercise requiring detailed drafting and parliamentary procedures.
It expressed concern over the absence of panchayat elections for the past six years, claiming that village-level development, implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the release of funds had been affected.
Meanwhile, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook rejected the allegations and defended the body’s approach to negotiations with the Centre.
Lakrook said he had contacted Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on the morning of October 20 to seek confirmation of the meeting scheduled for October 22 with the MHA so that outstanding issues could be discussed directly.
He also shared documents and drafts exchanged with the Home Ministry, urging people to examine the proposals and recorded commitments rather than rely on speculation.
“Our firm stand on protecting the interests of our people must not be misconstrued as confrontation. Seeking a just and lasting solution is not confrontation; it is our responsibility to the people of Ladakh,” Lakrook said.
On October 17, Kundra reiterated the Centre’s commitment to developing a customised constitutional framework for Ladakh, describing it as a sui generis model suited to the region’s specific demands. He had also called for further dialogue on the MHA draft.
Ladakh has witnessed repeated protests since it was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019 following the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The region’s principal demands include statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect its land, culture and other interests.
Meanwhile, Ladakh Chief Electoral Officer Rahul Sharma announced that municipal elections in Leh and Kargil would be held on November 21.
The election notification will be issued on October 29, while November 5 is the last date for filing nominations. The Leh Municipal Committee has 21 wards and the Kargil Municipal Committee 17 wards.
The Model Code of Conduct has come into force, and the election process is scheduled to be completed by November 30, officials said.
The State Election Commission had earlier announced panchayat elections for November 21 and notified 100 constituencies across Ladakh’s eight districts.
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