Ladakh: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has accused the Centre of moving away from its promises to Ladakh, saying regional leaders are still waiting for an invitation to the next round of talks that had been scheduled for October 22.
In a video message on Thursday, Wangchuk said officials of the Union Home Ministry had indicated after last week’s inconclusive meeting that discussions would resume on October 22. He said he had booked his ticket in anticipation of the meeting, but was subsequently told that the talks would not take place as expected.
“So, I booked my ticket… but now it is being told that these talks are not happening today, and again they are moving away from their promises,” Wangchuk said.
What Did Sonam Wangchuk Say About Ladakh’s Demands?
Wangchuk said the uncertainty over the talks had deepened concerns among people in the Union Territory, particularly over the Centre’s earlier assurances on constitutional safeguards and political representation.
He alleged that the government was backtracking on commitments, including the proposal to extend protections under the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
Describing the situation in the border region, Wangchuk said residents faced pressure from China while also feeling let down by the Indian government. He argued that people in Ladakh were not being given adequate democratic avenues to express their aspirations through voting.
His remarks come amid continuing negotiations between the Centre and representatives of Ladakh over demands for constitutional safeguards and greater political protection for the region.
Why Did Ladakh Leaders Reject The Centre’s Draft Proposal?
Last week, representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) met officials of the Union Home Ministry in Leh. The two bodies rejected a draft proposal presented by the Centre, alleging that it fell short of assurances given during a meeting in May.
After the meeting, Ladakh leaders said the next round of discussions would take place in New Delhi on October 22. However, they had not received an invitation by Thursday, leaving the status of the proposed meeting uncertain.
The Union Territory administration, meanwhile, reiterated on Saturday that the Centre remained “fully committed to finding a political solution at the earliest”. It also expressed disappointment with the response from Ladakh’s leadership, alleging that the draft proposal had been dismissed within two hours of being received.
The latest meeting followed discussions in New Delhi on September 9, which the LAB and KDA had described as a “non-starter” because they believed there had been no substantive progress on key issues.
What Constitutional Safeguards Are Ladakh Leaders Seeking?
During discussions in May, the Centre and Ladakh representatives had reached an in-principle understanding on extending constitutional safeguards to the Union Territory along the lines of Articles 371A, 371F and 371G.
These provisions offer special protections to Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram, respectively. Ladakh’s political representatives have sought safeguards to protect the region’s interests, including its land, identity and governance arrangements.
The disagreement over the draft proposal has now added to uncertainty surrounding the dialogue process. With the proposed October 22 meeting in doubt, Ladakh’s leadership is awaiting clarity on when the next round of discussions will take place.
