Ladakh groups dissatisfied with Home Ministry’s draft proposal
Next round of discussions to be held in New Delhi on Oct 22
Srinagar: A fresh round of talks between Ladakh leaders and officials of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was held in Leh, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), expressing dissatisfaction over the draft proposal presented by the Indian government.
The meeting came ahead of the next round of discussions, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on October 22.
The LAB Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakruk, talking to reporters after the meeting, said the Home Ministry tabled a draft proposal during the meeting, while the LAB and KDA also submitted their own draft to the authorities. “We found that there is a huge gap between the two drafts, so there is no agreement yet. However, we have said that whatever happens next should happen soon. The next round of talks will be held in New Delhi, India, on October 22nd,” Lakruk told reporters after the meeting.
He said the two bodies would formally respond to the Indian government’s proposal, adding that their key demands remained constitutional safeguards on the lines of Article 371K and the restoration of a legislature for Ladakh.
The talks follow discussions held in New Delhi on September 9, which the LAB and KDA had described as a “non-starter”, citing a lack of substantive progress on issues concerning Ladakh.
KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai also expressed disappointment over the Indian Home Ministry’s proposal. “It is not satisfactory at all. The draft does not match our demands or what the people of Ladakh want,” he said.
‘Ladakh’s leadership will not dilute its core demands’
Karbalai reiterated that Ladakh’s leadership would continue engaging in dialogue but would not dilute its core demands.
During talks held in May, the Centre and Ladakh groups had reached an in-principle understanding on extending constitutional safeguards to the Union Territory on the lines of Articles 371A, 371F and 371G, which provide special protections to Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram, respectively.
Following criticism of the September talks, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra had urged the region’s leaders to remain optimistic and reassure the public that progress was being made on issues of critical importance to the Union Territory.
