Ladakh Delegation to Meet MHA Sub-Committee in Delhi on October 22
Leh: Representatives from Ladakh are set to hold talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sub-committee in New Delhi on October 22, Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-chairman Chering Dorje Lakruk said on Sunday.
The meeting will include three members each from the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), along with Ladakh MP Mohd Haneefa Jan. The discussions are expected to focus primarily on Ladakh’s key demands — statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
“We were informed by the Home Ministry that the sub-committee meeting is scheduled for October 22 and that both LAB and KDA have been invited. We welcome this decision by the Government of India and hope for a positive outcome,” Lakruk told reporters in Leh.
The announcement follows the violent protests in Leh on September 24, during a shutdown called by the LAB to press for these demands. Four people were killed and several others injured in clashes between protesters and security personnel. More than 50 individuals were detained for alleged rioting, while activist Sonam Wangchuk — seen as the face of the agitation — was booked under the National Security Act (NSA), which allows preventive detention for up to 12 months.
Government sources said talks were earlier proposed on July 20 but received no response. The LAB and KDA have been jointly leading the movement seeking full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
