SRINAGAR: Talks between the government and Ladakh’s leadership ended inconclusively on Thursday, with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) declaring themselves “totally dissatisfied” with the Centre’s draft proposal on constitutional safeguards and a legislature for the Union Territory.
The three‑hour meeting in Leh—attended by senior Ladakh leaders including Lok Sabha member Haji Haneefa Jan, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, Kargil Hill Autonomous Council CEC Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra and former Leh Hill Council CEC Tashi Gyalson—exposed a widening gulf between the two sides just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated major development projects in the landlocked region.
The Union Home Ministry sub‑committee shared its draft proposal only after Ladakh representatives submitted detailed replies to a questionnaire and presented an MoU outlining their demands. But KDA co‑chairman Asgar Karbalai said the draft “does not match our demands or what the people of Ladakh want,” adding that the Centre’s document fell far short of the constitutional guarantees, statehood and legislative powers sought by the LAB–KDA. He said legal experts from both bodies would now prepare a counter‑draft by October 18, ahead of the next round of talks scheduled in New Delhi on October 22.
Sonam Wangchuk described the gap between the two sides as “like that between the sky and the earth,” arguing that the draft failed to preserve the progress made in earlier rounds. Still, he said the leadership would treat the meeting as part of an ongoing process rather than a breakdown. LAB co‑chairman Chering Dorjey echoed the sentiment, insisting that while no agreement was reached, the demand for a legislature and constitutional safeguards under Article 371(K) “will not be diluted.” Former Leh Hill Council CEC Tashi Gyalson said the Home Ministry’s proposal and the LAB–KDA’s suggestions were discussed in detail, but no decisions were taken.
The stalled talks come against the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s virtual inauguration of five major development projects in Ladakh on October 15—a shift from the in‑person visit earlier hinted at by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. The Prime Minister, who had been expected to travel to Leh, instead addressed the event via video conferencing from New Delhi, inaugurating projects worth ₹3,350 crore, including the new terminal at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, the strategic Nimmu–Padum–Darcha Road, the Hanu Small Hydroelectric Project, India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat, and Project Him Sarovar for water security.
In his virtual address, Modi praised Ladakh’s “unique cultural heritage, strategic importance and extraordinary resilience,” calling the region “a symbol of India’s pride.” He said the new infrastructure would “transform connectivity, strengthen national security and support Ladakh’s aspirations for sustainable development.” He also reiterated the Centre’s commitment to “protecting Ladakh’s identity and ensuring long‑term prosperity,” remarks clearly aimed at reassuring a population that has grown increasingly anxious about political representation and constitutional protections since Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019.
But for LAB and KDA leaders, Modi’s absence was unmistakable. Several leaders privately described it as a “political signal,” reinforcing the perception that while development projects are being pushed aggressively, the Centre remains hesitant to address Ladakh’s core political demands. The virtual inauguration came just weeks after the UT administration announced a major compensation package for victims of the September 24, 2025 unrest in Leh and withdrew criminal cases against 20 individuals—moves widely seen as attempts to rebuild trust with LAB–KDA.
Yet, despite these gestures, negotiations remain fraught. Talks held on September 9 in New Delhi had already made little headway, with the Home Ministry asking LAB and KDA to build consensus on eight to ten unresolved issues before the Centre drafts a special constitutional framework under Article 371. Thursday’s meeting suggests that consensus remains distant.
As Ladakh awaits the next round of talks on October 22, the region finds itself at a crossroads. While its physical infrastructure is rising rapidly, the political bridge between Ladakh and New Delhi remains under construction. LAB and KDA leaders insist that development cannot substitute for democratic rights, and until constitutional safeguards and a legislature are secured, Ladakh’s political anxieties will persist.
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