Ladakh groups express disappointment over MHA meet; Wangchuk warns of fresh stir from Sept 19

NEW DELHI: Ladakh groups have expressed disappointment after a meeting with the ministry of home affairs sub-committee, saying the Centre failed to present the much-awaited draft for a proposed elected body for the Union Territory.Climate activist and Leh Apex Body (LAB) member Sonam Wangchuk said there had been “no special progress” since the May 22 meeting, while Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) representative Sajjad Kargili said the delegation had come to Delhi expecting a draft detailing the structure and powers of the proposed body.What are the demands?The LAB and KDA have been seeking an elected legislative body at the UT level and safeguards for land, jobs, culture and identity since talks with the Centre began in 2021, news agency PTI reported.Kargili said the meeting reiterated that the proposed body would be elected, with separate delimitation and constituencies. However, the groups said there was still no clarity on the overall distribution of powers, including law and order.The groups also pressed for early legislation and elections.Wangchuk also mentioned that Centre indicated that compensation would be provided to those killed or injured during the September 24, 2025 violence in Leh and that an announcement was expected soon.“We demanded that all cases should be withdrawn together. They said they will think about it,” Wangchuk said, adding that the delegation could not say the Centre had agreed to the demand.Wangchuk warns of fresh agitationWangchuk has warned that the groups could resume agitation if major decisions were taken before an elected democratic body was established."Will launch a fresh stir from September 19 to 24 over Ladakh issues if we don't get any assurance from the government," he said.The next meeting is likely to be held in Kargil in the first week of October, he said.Ladakh was made a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019. The May 22 talks had resulted in an in-principle understanding on an elected UT-level body and a customised constitutional safeguards framework under Article 371.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.