Ladakh leaders seek direct talks with Amit Shah, call May 22 meet ‘inadequate’
Leh: The Leh Apex Body has demanded “decision-level” talks with Indian Home Minister Amit Shah during his two-day visit to Leh starting April 30, calling New Delhi’s scheduled May 22 sub-committee meeting “inadequate” to resolve Ladakh’s long-pending issues.
According to Kashmir Media Service, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay said a sub-committee meeting was “completely meaningless” as all matters had already been discussed threadbare. “Now is the time for decisions,” he said, urging Shah to chair a joint meeting with LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance under the High-Powered Committee framework.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said the Ladakh issue has been dragging on for five to six years. “Discussions at the secretary level do not involve decision-making authorities. If no decision is reached on May 22, another four months may pass,” he said. Wangchuk added that Shah had earlier assured Ladakh’s leadership he would personally chair such meetings in Ladakh.
LAB leader Ashraf Barcha said no major issue was left at the sub-committee level. “If New Delhi does not intend to grant statehood or Sixth Schedule safeguards, it should say so clearly,” Dorjay said. LAB and KDA have been in talks with the Modi government since 2021 over a four-point agenda including statehood for Ladakh and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
