MHA calls next round of talks on Ladakh on October 6

Following renewed protests in Ladakh, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has called for the next round of talks with civil society leaders in the Union Territory on October 6.

A high-powered committee, led by Minister of State Nityanand Rai, held the last meeting on May 27. The committee is engaged in talks with Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) over the demand of the groupings for constitutional safeguards for the region.

The two groups demand Statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule (for tribal areas status) of the Constitution.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is currently sitting on a 35-day hunger strike along with other residents at Leh as the demands were not met and the MHA had not held talks for a long time.

Sajjad Kargili of the KDA posted on X, “MHA has decided to resume talks with the Ladakhis leadership — hope these talks will lead to the restoration of democratic rights in terms of statehood and sixth schedule for #Ladakh. We expect that these talks would not be for sake of it. It must be result oriented.”

Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019 without a Legislative Assembly after Article 370 of the Constitution was read down by Parliament.

A year later, the region, comprising Buddhist-dominated Leh and Muslims-dominated Kargil district, erupted in protest with civil society leaders pressing forth constitutional safeguards such as Statehood for Ladakh, inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, job reservation for locals and a parliamentary seat each for Leh and Kargil.