Ladakh talks cancelled – The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the two premier organizations leading the movement for constitutional protection for Ladakh, will be postponing the proposed dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi on September 30th. The leaders stated: “We cannot hold talks at gunpoint!, referring to both the action and also the allegations against the people of Ladakh by the Head MHA of Jammu and Kashmir.
LAB co-convenor Cherring Dorjay Lakruk felt that Ladakhis have been branded as “anti-national” or charged with an “anti-national” agenda for cooperating with “foreign elements” and the Pakistan government. He believed that the conspiracy allegations, coupled with the arrest of Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), at least provided a guard rail to trust, and therefore, he did not feel it was possible to hold talks.
September 24 Protests and Police Firing
Following the protests in Leh on September 24, where police gunfire killed four people, LAB leaders have held the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) responsible for opening fire without obtaining permission from the district magistrate. They have called for a judicial investigation of the incident, noting that children had been shot in the head and that several young men and bystanders were placed under arrest. Police are still detaining around 50 individuals, most of them students sitting their exams, Lakruk noted.
Another flashpoint for anger was the prohibition of people attending the cremation of two dead protesters, which included retired soldier Tsewang Tharchin, who was a veteran of the Kargil War. Leaders of LAB claimed that this prohibition made feelings worse, and they suggested that the government is to blame for inciting unrest among youth. “The cause of the youth uprising on the street is the government. We do not want violence. However, the delay of meetings was like a pressure cooker for the youth, Lakruk said.
Government’s Response After Ladakh Talks Cancelled and Past Engagements
The MHA responded by reiterating its willingness to engage with LAB and KDA through the HPC or other forums. It noted achievements from previous encounters, such as increased reservations for Scheduled Tribes, women’s representation in hill councils, safeguarding of local languages, and recruitment drives for approximately 1,800 government posts in Ladakh. The ministry had also accused Wangchuk of making “provocative statements” that incited violence on September 24 while continuing with his hunger strike.
LAB leaders reacted to these accusations by stating that Wangchuk’s campaign for Ladakh was simply a claim for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. They also stated that the government had launched an inquiry into alleged irregularities at Wangchuk’s institute only after he spoke for Ladakhi rights. “They want to silence us. Do they expect us to negotiate with guns pointed at us?” asked Lakruk.
Future Dialogue Hinges on Trust
The September 30 meeting was an “informational meeting” leading into a larger consultation with the HPC on October 6. However, LAB and KDA stated that they would not attend unless the government could dismiss the “anti-national” claim against Ladaki youth and pledge to a judicial investigation of the shooting of demonstrators on September 24.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed support for Ladakh’s entry into the Sixth Schedule, like other local organizations have. Civil society organizations assert that constitutional protection is a must to defend Ladakh’s fragile tribal identity and ecology.
Ladakh was designated a Union Territory without a legislative assembly in 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated. The situation has worsened since then as locals have continued to demand greater political autonomy, land and employment protections, and recognition as a tribal area. The walk-out from negotiations is the lowest point in the history of the Centre and Ladakh representative bodies and demonstrates the level of trust deficit.
The government says the door for talks is open, but the LAB and KDA insist on rebuilding trust first.Their message in the meantime is straightforward: no talks under duress.
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