The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for a fresh round of talks in New Delhi on January 15.
The meeting will focus on the demands put forward by the LAB and KDA regarding the Sixth Schedule, statehood, a Public Service Commission and two Lok Sabha MPs, one each for Leh and Kargil.
The meeting will be chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. Other officials of MHA, including Home Secretary Govind Mohan and the joint secretary overseeing Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh affairs will also be present.
The LAB will be represented by Thupstan Chhewang, Chering Dorjay Lakruk and Nawang Rigzin Jora and KDA by Qamar Ali Akhoon, Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Kargili. Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan, the chairpersons of the Leh and Kargil Hill Councils and Pawan Kotwal, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh will also participate in the meeting.
Kargili told THE WEEK they received the invite for the meeting. He said they are hopeful that the meeting will be helpful.
“During the last meeting, the Centre agreed to reserve 95 per cent of the jobs for the people of Ladakh,” he said. “As for the demand regarding two Lok Sabha seats that is subject to the delimitation in 2026.” He said they have not given up on the other demands but they are prioritising the low ‘hanging fruit’.
The LAB and KDA leaders will convene a joint session on January 14 in New Delhi to finalise their strategy.
After Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and granted a union territory status, its leaders have been demanding the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect its unique cultural and tribal heritage.
They also demand statehood for the region which has been rejected by the MHA. Other demands are under consideration. The Centre has told the Ladakh leaders in the previous meetings that it was ready to extend the provision of the Sixth Schedule that applies to Ladakh but ruled out Sixth Schedule status to the region.
The Ladakh leaders, however, have played hardball and the inclusion of statehood demand is aimed at extracting maximum concession from the Centre.
The urgency to address the demand of Ladakh was underscored during the last High Powered Committee (HPC) meeting on December 3, 2024, which concluded without a resolution but resulted in an agreement to reserve 95% of gazetted cadre posts for locals.
However, the mechanism to implement this decision is yet to be finalised. The outcome of these talks could pave the way for meaningful progress, ensuring that Ladakh's distinct identity and needs are recognised and addressed within the broader framework of national governance.
