Ladakh Talks Remain Inconclusive; LAB, KDA Seek Interim Safeguards as MHA Promises Fresh Meeting in Early September
JAMMU, AUGUST 19: Talks between representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and a visiting team of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs remained inconclusive on Wednesday, with no fresh breakthrough reported on the core constitutional and political demands concerning Ladakh.
The meeting, held in Leh and attended by senior representatives of LAB, KDA, Ladakh leadership and officials of the Union Territory administration, lasted nearly two hours. Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra also participated in the deliberations.
According to sources, the discussions did not produce further movement on the in-principle understanding reportedly reached during the May 22 meeting in New Delhi regarding creation of a Union Territory-level elected body for Ladakh with legislative, executive and financial powers.
With no substantive progress emerging from the latest round, representatives of LAB and KDA reiterated that continued delay could force them to return fully to their earlier demands for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.
The two bodies also cautioned that prolonged uncertainty could lead to a broader public agitation if what they described as delaying tactics continued.
The MHA team, however, assured the representatives that another meeting would be convened in New Delhi in the first week of September to take forward the pending issues. It is yet to be clarified whether the next round will be held under the High-Powered Committee, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, or through the Sub-Committee mechanism led by MHA officials.
Among those who participated in the meeting were Chering Dorjay Lakruk, Sonam Wangchuk and Dorjay Stanzin from the LAB; Asgar Ali Karbalai, Sajjad Kargili and Ghulam Rasool from the KDA; Ladakh MP Mohd Hanifa Jan and other representatives from the Union Territory.
Though no formal statement was issued after the meeting, the LAB and KDA submitted a list of what they termed non-negotiable points to the MHA team.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, KDA leader Asgar Ali Karbalai said the representatives had insisted that the discussion remain focused on the minutes of the May 22 meeting rather than shifting primarily towards development-related matters.
He said the Ladakh delegation had expected further clarity on the proposed UT-level elected structure and on constitutional safeguards inspired by provisions such as Articles 371A, 371F and 371G.
Karbalai said the representatives had made it clear that any departure from the understandings recorded earlier would compel them to revive their demand for full Statehood and Sixth Schedule protection.
The LAB and KDA also raised the issue of cases registered in connection with the September 24, 2025 agitation in Leh and demanded their withdrawal. They further sought compensation for those killed and injured during the firing associated with the protest.
The list of demands submitted to the MHA also called for an elected Ladakh Legislative Assembly with constitutionally protected control over taxation, budgeting, appropriation, expenditure, borrowing and public funds.
The representatives sought a constitutionally protected Consolidated Fund and Contingency Fund for Ladakh and argued that the financial framework should include provisions broadly corresponding to constitutional mechanisms governing Money Bills, annual financial statements, grants, appropriation and financial procedure.
They also sought extension of appropriate legislative powers under the Seventh Schedule, along with a directly elected and constitutionally empowered legislature based on properly delimited Assembly constituencies.
The LAB and KDA further demanded that the composition, territorial representation and legislative, executive and financial powers of the proposed elected body be clearly defined within a constitutional framework, with safeguards adapted to Ladakh’s specific circumstances.
Another significant demand concerned democratic control over Home Affairs, with the two bodies seeking a stronger role for the elected government and legislature in matters of administration and policing.
They also called for a separate Public Service Commission, Ladakh Administrative Service and Police Service, along with appropriate Ladakh-specific cadres.
Pending a final constitutional settlement, LAB and KDA proposed several interim safeguards. These include making a valid Ladakh Residence Certificate mandatory for registration of business units, commercial establishments and access to trade-related protections reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
They also sought a temporary freeze on allotment, transfer or disposal of land to persons who do not meet prescribed Ladakh residence requirements, arguing that irreversible changes to Ladakh’s land ownership and economic structure should be avoided until a final settlement is reached.
The fresh assurance of a meeting in early September has kept the dialogue process open, but the absence of a breakthrough has also underlined the widening impatience among Ladakh’s political and civil society representatives. The next round is therefore expected to be crucial in determining whether the dialogue moves towards a negotiated constitutional framework or faces renewed public mobilisation.
