Leh, October 16: Talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and representatives of Ladakh’s key political and civil society groups remained inconclusive on Thursday, with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) expressing dissatisfaction with the Centre’s proposal and seeking a revised draft ahead of the next round of negotiations in New Delhi on October 22.
The MHA presented a 15-page draft outlining a possible way forward on Ladakh’s long-standing demands. However, the LAB and KDA submitted their own draft, with leaders saying the two proposals differed on key issues and a consensus was yet to emerge.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the LAB and KDA, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, BJP leader Tashi Gyalson and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil Chief Executive Councillor Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon.
“We also shared our draft with the MHA, which gave a presentation on its draft. There were gaps between the two drafts and there was a lack of consensus. We expect a fresh response from the MHA to our draft to reach a consensus. We will also study and prepare our response to the MHA draft,” said Chering Dorjay Lakrook, co-chairman of the LAB.
Lakrook said the demand for a legislature for Ladakh and special constitutional safeguards remained non-negotiable. “We stand by the understanding reached in the previous meetings. We hope the Centre keeps its promise,” he said.
Wangchuk said the meeting should be seen as a continuation of the dialogue rather than a failure, but expressed concern over the differences between the two sides’ proposals.
“The MHA draft was not satisfactory. We expect a revised draft to be shared by the MHA with Ladakhi groups by October 18, given the huge differences between the two. We hope the MHA will narrow down the differences before the October 22 talks. Otherwise, we were perplexed to see the MHA draft,” he said.
The KDA also rejected the Centre’s proposal as inadequate. Its co-chairman, Asgar Ali Karbalai, said the draft did not reflect the aspirations of the people of Ladakh.
“It does not match the demands of Ladakhis. We will continue to seek democratic and constitutional rights and guarantees,” Karbalai said.
Gyalson, meanwhile, said the discussions were aimed at reaching a resolution after years of deliberations. The meeting considered the MHA’s 15-page draft alongside suggestions submitted by the LAB and KDA, he said, adding that the next round would take place in New Delhi.
The talks come against the backdrop of a six-year-old movement in Ladakh for constitutional safeguards, greater political representation and protection of the region’s land, jobs and cultural identity.
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory in August 2019, after the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and reorganised the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. Since then, the LAB and KDA have led the demand for statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, safeguards for local employment and land rights, and a legislature for the region.
Negotiations between the Centre and Ladakhi representatives have passed through several rounds, with differences over the nature and extent of constitutional protections remaining a key sticking point.
The Centre indicated in July this year that it was considering a customised constitutional arrangement for Ladakh, including a possible framework under Article 371 and a legislature for the region. Thursday’s meeting, however, showed that the two sides have yet to agree on the details.
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