Ladakh, Centre hold fresh talks on constitutional safeguards

A fresh round of talks was held between civil society groups from Ladakh and the Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday, three months after the previous meeting between the two sides.

The talks followed the Centre’s indication that it was considering a “customised sui generis model” for Ladakh.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and senior government officials, including the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Chief Secretary of Ladakh and a Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau.

The meeting started at 4 pm and concluded nearly three hours later.

Chering Dorjey Lakrook, co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body, told businessline that government representatives reiterated the assurances given during the previous meeting held in Leh on May 22.

“Essentially, they reiterated the same assurances that were given during the May 22 meeting. We pressed them to provide these assurances in writing, but that was not done,” he said.

Larook, however, added that a detailed press statement would be released on Thursday.

Ladakh’s political, social and religious groups have been demanding stronger constitutional protections since the region was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir and granted Union Territory status in 2019.

On May 22, a proposed framework was drawn up envisaging legislative, executive and financial powers being vested in an elected Union Territory-level legislature. Under the framework, all bureaucrats, including the chief secretary, would function under the executive head of the elected body.