20/08/2026
No Breakthrough in Ladakh Talks; LAB, KDA Demand Interim Safeguards
The Truelinenetwork.in. Aslam khatana
MHA Assures Fresh Meeting in Delhi in First Week of September; LAB, KDA Warn of Mass Agitation Over Delay
LEH, AUGUST 20 No major breakthrough was achieved during a crucial meeting between representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and a team of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Leh on Wednesday, with the Centre assuring the two organisations that another round of talks would be held in New Delhi during the first week of September.
The MHA delegation, which arrived in Leh on Wednesday afternoon, held nearly two hours of discussions with representatives of LAB, KDA and other senior leaders from Ladakh. Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra also participated in the meeting.
However, the talks failed to make substantial progress on the in-principle agreement reached on May 22, particularly regarding the proposed UT-level elected body for Ladakh with legislative, executive and financial powers.
With no fresh headway, LAB and KDA conveyed that continued delay could compel them to revive their demands for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status and launch a mass-level agitation across Ladakh.
The MHA team assured the representatives that the next meeting would be convened in New Delhi in the first week of September. It is yet to be decided whether the meeting will be held under the High Powered Committee (HPC) or its Sub-Committee.
The HPC is headed by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, while the Sub-Committee is headed by MHA officials and has comparatively fewer representatives from LAB and KDA.
The meeting was attended by Chering Dorjay Lakruk, Sonam Wangchuk and Dorjay Stanzin from LAB, while Asgar Ali Karbalai, Sajjad Kargili and Ghulam Rasool represented KDA. Ladakh MP Mohd Hanifa Jan and other representatives from the Union Territory also participated.
Although no official statement was issued after the meeting, LAB and KDA submitted a detailed list of their non-negotiable demands to the MHA delegation.
KDA leader Asgar Ali Karbalai said the MHA team attempted to focus the discussions on developmental issues, but the LAB and KDA representatives insisted that the talks remain centred on the Minutes of the May 22 meeting.
He said the organisations made it clear that the proposed UT-level elected body must have legislative, executive and financial powers, along with constitutional safeguards for Ladakh.
Karbalai said any deviation from the commitments recorded during the May 22 meeting would force LAB and KDA to return to their demands for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status.
He also warned that prolonged delay could result in a mass agitation on the ground.
Withdrawal of Cases, Compensation Demanded
LAB and KDA also demanded the withdrawal of cases registered in connection with the September 24, 2025 agitation in Leh.
They further sought compensation for those killed and injured in firing during the unrest, describing the issue as an important part of their demands.
Demand for Constitutional Financial Powers
Among the major demands, LAB and KDA sought a constitutionally protected Ladakh Legislative Assembly with meaningful powers over taxation, budget, appropriation, expenditure, borrowing and public funds.
They demanded the creation of a Consolidated Fund and Contingency Fund for Ladakh, besides constitutional provisions relating to Money Bills, Annual Financial Statements, grants, appropriation and financial procedures.
The organisations also sought extension of relevant provisions of Article 246 and the Seventh Schedule to Ladakh, suitably adapted to the requirements of the Union Territory.
They demanded that the proposed Legislature be directly elected and constitutionally empowered, with properly delimited Assembly constituencies through a constitutionally recognised delimitation mechanism.
According to the demands submitted to the MHA, the composition, territorial representation and legislative, executive and financial powers of the proposed Legislature should be clearly defined.
LAB and KDA also sought constitutional safeguards drawing from provisions applicable to states under Articles 371A, 371F and 371G.
Control Over Home Affairs, Separate Services Commission Sought
The two organisations further demanded that Home Affairs be brought substantially under the democratic control of the elected Government and the proposed Ladakh Legislative Assembly.
They sought a separate Public Services Commission, along with dedicated Ladakh Administrative Service and Ladakh Police Service and appropriate Ladakh-specific cadres.
Interim Safeguards for Land and Economic Interests
Pending a final constitutional settlement, LAB and KDA pressed for immediate interim safeguards to protect Ladakh’s land, business and economic interests.
They proposed that a valid Ladakh Residence Certificate should be mandatory for the registration of business units, establishment and regulation of commercial activities and grant or renewal of trade-related benefits and protections reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
The organisations also demanded that, until constitutional safeguards and the elected UT-level Legislature are fully established and operational, the allotment, transfer or disposal of land to persons not meeting prescribed Ladakh residence requirements should remain in abeyance.
LAB and KDA maintained that such interim measures were necessary to prevent irreversible changes in land ownership, economic interests and demographic safeguards while negotiations with the Centre continue.
The two bodies are now expected to prepare for the proposed September meeting in New Delhi, while maintaining that the May 22 commitments must remain the foundation of further negotiations.
