Leh, Aug 19: A high-level team from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held separate discussions with representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in Leh on Ladakh’s political demands, including statehood, constitutional safeguards and the proposed framework for an elected UT-level body.
The meeting, the second such interaction between the MHA team and the Ladakh leadership in Leh in less than two months, also discussed the roadmap for an elected arrangement with legislative, executive, and financial powers, as well as the functioning of the seven Autonomous Hill Development Councils.
Sources said the MHA team, including senior officials handling Ladakh-related issues under the ongoing sub-committee process, met three members each from LAB and KDA, along with senior officers of the UT administration and other stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra and senior administrative officers, besides Hill Council Kargil Chairman Dr Mohammad Zaffar Akhoon, former Leh Hill Council chairman Tashi Gyalson and former Union minister Thupstan Chhewang, among others.
The LAB delegation comprised its newly elected chairman Tsering Dorjay Lakruk, Sonam Wangchuk and Dorje Stanzin, while the KDA was represented by Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Kargili, among others.
The latest meeting comes nearly seven weeks after the previous interaction held in Leh on July 3. That meeting had helped break the deadlock over the signing of the minutes of the May 22 meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) held in New Delhi.
The LAB and KDA subsequently signed the minutes on July 3 after an understanding was reached on the proposed arrangement, including the demand that bureaucratic officials, including the Chief Secretary, should function under the control of the head of the proposed UT-level elected body.
Sources said Wednesday’s discussions centred on the broader political and constitutional framework being sought by the two bodies and the modalities for a “tailor-made” democratic arrangement for Ladakh.
Following the meeting, KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili said the two organisations had placed before the MHA their “important and non-negotiable points” relating to the powers and functioning of the proposed democratic setup.
“We also submitted a resolution demanding the unconditional withdrawal of all cases against those affected by the 24 September incident, along with dignified and adequate compensation for the victims and their families,” Kargili said in a post on X.
He said the KDA and LAB remained committed to safeguarding the “democratic, constitutional and political rights” of the people of Ladakh.
In a joint note submitted during the meeting, the LAB and KDA said their demands were based on the broad understanding reached between the MHA and the two organisations during the May 22 discussions in New Delhi.
The two bodies said that, considering the present limitations in Ladakh’s revenue resources for a full-fledged statehood arrangement, a mutually acceptable “sui generis” democratic model could be adopted as an interim framework, while keeping full statehood as the ultimate objective.
Under the proposed framework, the organisations have sought a Ladakh Legislative Assembly headed by a Chief Minister and a Council of Ministers, with members directly elected from constitutionally delimited constituencies.
They have also demanded meaningful legislative, executive and financial powers for the proposed Assembly, with the distribution of powers drawing upon the relevant provisions of the Constitution, including the Seventh Schedule.
The LAB and KDA have further sought a framework under which the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh would act on the aid and advice of the elected Assembly to prevent conflicts between the elected government and the UT administration.
Financial powers have emerged as another key component of the demands. The two bodies have sought constitutionally protected control of taxation, budget, appropriation, expenditure, borrowing and public funds for the proposed elected legislature.
They have also called for a constitutionally protected Consolidated Fund and Contingency Fund for Ladakh, along with financial procedures covering money bills, annual financial statements, grants and appropriation.
On legislative safeguards, the two organisations have sought a directly elected and constitutionally empowered legislature with separately constituted and properly delimited constituencies.
They have also sought constitutional protection for the composition, territorial representation and legislative, executive and financial powers of the proposed Assembly, citing safeguards available to certain other parts of the country.
The organisations have placed “Home, Public Order and Police” under the elected government among their major demands. They have sought substantial democratic control over these subjects through the proposed Assembly and government.
Another demand is the creation of a separate Ladakh Public Service Commission, along with distinct Ladakh Administrative and Police Services and Ladakh-specific cadres.
The bodies have also called for necessary amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and relevant constitutional provisions to establish an appropriate framework for Ladakh’s public services.
The September 24, 2025 incident and its aftermath also figured prominently in the demands submitted to the MHA.
The LAB and KDA have sought dignified compensation and appropriate assistance for those killed, injured and otherwise affected by the firing and lathi-charge during the incident.
They have demanded comprehensive and uniform withdrawal of all cases arising from the incident, including FIR No. 144, arguing that the commitment recorded in the May 22 minutes should be implemented in full.
The two bodies have specifically opposed any selective or phased withdrawal of cases, calling for the commitment to be honoured comprehensively.
Pending a final constitutional settlement, LAB and KDA have also sought interim safeguards for Ladakh’s land, economy and demographic interests.
Among the proposed interim measures is making a valid Ladakh Residence Certificate mandatory for registration of business units, regulation of commercial activities and grant or renewal of trade licences.
They have also sought Ladakh-specific safeguards in relation to land transactions, including keeping allotment, transfer or disposal of land to persons who do not meet prescribed residence requirements in abeyance until a final constitutional arrangement is put in place.
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