Centre schedules sub-panel meeting on May 22 to resume Ladakh dialogue – The Tribune
Amid growing demand from local groups for the resumption of dialogue, the next round of talks between representatives of Ladakh civil society and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to discuss key issues, including statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, will be held on May 22.
Announcing the development, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday said the Centre has decided to convene a meeting of the sub-committee for political dialogue.
"I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has taken a decision to convene a meeting of the sub-committee for political dialogue on 22nd May. This will carry forward the process of constructive democratic dialogue with key stakeholders of Ladakh and pave the way for an enduring solution to meet the aspirations of the people of Ladakh," the L-G said in a post on X.
The talks will be the first since Saxena assumed office as the Lieutenant Governor, replacing Kavinder Gupta. Since taking charge in March, the L-G has initiated outreach measures, expressed confidence in the dialogue process, and pushed for development as well as revival of stalled projects.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been engaged in dialogue with the Centre since 2021, have repeatedly demanded early resumption of talks. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, their core demands — including statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh — remain unresolved.
The government had constituted a High-Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to deliberate on issues concerning the Union Territory. The last meeting of the HPC was held in New Delhi on February 4, after which no immediate follow-up meeting was convened.
After reports suggested that the February 4 talks had failed, UT Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra had termed such claims speculative, maintaining that the discussions were constructive and reaffirming the government's commitment to an inclusive democratic consultation process involving all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, recent developments, including the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jodhpur Central Jail on March 14 after revocation of his detention under the National Security Act, and the release of local leaders arrested during last year's protests, have also shaped the broader context of the ongoing dialogue. Wangchuk had been taken into custody on September 26 following an order by the Leh district magistrate in connection with protest-related violence.
A meeting of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) was held in Leh on Sunday, which was attended by educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
During the meeting, members urged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is scheduled to visit the Union Territory on April 30, should hold discussions with representatives of both the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
"All members have demanded that when the Home Minister is coming to Ladakh, he should hold a meeting with LAB and KDA here in Leh," Wangchuk said during a media briefing.
He also alleged that violations were committed by the administration following the violence in Leh in September last year, during which several people were injured and four lost their lives.
Wangchuk demanded adequate compensation for the families of those killed as well as for the injured. He further called for withdrawal of cases registered against protesters ahead of the Home Minister's visit.
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