VBL says Sept 9 dialogue cannot be considered complete without Buddhist representation; opposes LAB-KDA plan for Kargil-Manali-Leh mobilisation
LEH: The Voice of Buddhist Ladakh (VBL) has demanded that former Ladakh MP and senior political leader Thupstan Chhewang be included in the September 9 talks between representatives of Ladakh and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), warning that any dialogue held without his participation would be “incomplete” from the Buddhist community’s perspective.
Addressing a press conference, VBL convenor Skarma Namtak and other leaders alleged that the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) were attempting to sideline Chhewang from the forthcoming round of discussions. They urged the MHA to specifically invite him to represent the concerns and interests of Ladakh’s Buddhist community.
VBL leaders argued that the existing negotiating structure did not adequately represent what they described as the interests of the Buddhist population. They pointed out that the Sub-Committee constituted for the dialogue has six members—three each from Leh and Kargil—while the High Powered Committee comprises 14 members, with seven representatives each from Leh and Kargil.
The VBL alleged that none of these representatives was adequately articulating the concerns of the Buddhist community and claimed that the negotiating process had largely focused on issues concerning Kargil and its Muslim population.
“Thupstan Chhewang is the tallest leader from Ladakh,” the VBL leadership asserted, insisting that he should be brought into the dialogue so that the interests of the Buddhist community are directly placed before the Centre while discussing the political and constitutional future of Ladakh.
The organisation warned that it would not accept the outcome of the September 9 talks as fully representative if Chhewang was excluded.
The VBL also strongly opposed the proposed Pad Yatra being planned by the LAB and KDA, alleging that the two bodies were preparing to organise separate marches from Kargil and Manali beginning September 10, culminating in Leh on September 24.
According to VBL leaders, the proposed mobilisation could culminate in a protest similar to the large-scale agitation witnessed in Leh on September 24, 2025. They alleged that the planned programme could disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in Ladakh.
The VBL categorically stated that it opposed the proposed yatra and protest and would “go to any extent” to prevent such a mobilisation, while stressing that its objective was to maintain peace and stability in the Union Territory.
