Govt serious on Ladakh issues, Fresh talks likely in Sept: Adv Gyalson

LEH: Senior BJP leader and former Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Leh, Adv. Tashi Gyalson, has rejected claims by some members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was not serious about addressing Ladakh’s core demands, saying the delay in moving forward was due to differences over the draft to be placed before the Centre.

Gyalson said the MHA remained “serious” about addressing Ladakh’s core issues and that another round of talks involving the High Powered Committee (HPC) or its Sub-Committee was likely to be held in New Delhi in the first week of September.

Talking to The Earth News Ladakh, Gyalson said the latest meeting discussed a written draft submitted by representatives of the LAB and KDA, covering a range of issues, including the creation of new districts in Kargil, sub-divisions in the newly created districts, and the framework and elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions and councils.

He said the meeting was held in a “conducive atmosphere” and that the Ladakh Chief Secretary had assured the participants that the issues listed in the written draft would be taken up with the MHA.

According to Gyalson, the points raised by the LAB and KDA would now be incorporated into the main draft being prepared by the MHA. This, he said, would pave the way for another meeting of the HPC or its Sub-Committee in New Delhi in the first week of September.

Gyalson also disputed recent claims by some LAB and KDA members that the MHA was not serious about addressing Ladakh’s core demands.

Referring to the previous meeting with MHA officials on May 22, he said representatives of the LAB and KDA had agreed to submit a written draft of their demands, following an in-principle understanding reached during that meeting.

He claimed, however, that the promised draft was not subsequently submitted and that the LAB and KDA instead asked the MHA to prepare a draft.

Gyalson said the latest written submission included issues linked to Ladakh’s core demands, including compensation for victims of the September 24, 2025 violence and withdrawal of cases registered against Ladakhi youth detained by police, besides other issues discussed during earlier rounds of talks.

The latest meeting also deliberated on demands contained in the draft, including the creation of a separate district at Sankoo in Kargil, creation of sub-divisions across the newly created districts, and the framework and elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions and councils, he said.

Gyalson said the assurance by the Ladakh Chief Secretary that the issues would be taken up with the MHA and incorporated into the main draft should pave the way for the next round of discussions in New Delhi.

He maintained that the developments indicated that the Centre remained engaged with the issues raised by Ladakh’s representatives. The proposed September meeting, he said, would provide the next opportunity to take forward discussions on the outstanding demands.