Ladakh Forum Demands Panchayat, LAHDC Polls Amid Talks Stall

Leh, October 23: A civil society forum in Ladakh has raised objections to the handling of negotiations with the Centre, accusing Sonam Wangchuk of taking over the central agenda of land, employment and cultural safeguards. The forum has also argued that the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance no longer speak for every district.

At a meeting held in Leh, the forum expressed serious concern about the delay in talks among the Union Home Ministry, the LAB and the KDA. Participants said the process had moved away from its original purpose of protecting Ladakh's land, jobs and culture, and criticised the adversarial approach adopted by some members during discussions.

The gathering was attended by former MP Thupstan Chhewang, former Chief Executive Councillor Rigzin Spalbar and former MLC Tsering Samphel. Representatives of Thiksey and Thuksey Rinpoche, monks from different monasteries, members of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, numberdars, retired officials and other civil society members were also present.

Chhewang claimed that the LAB and KDA leadership rejected the MHA's draft proposal without carefully examining the options before them. He said the results of earlier meetings had also been misrepresented, which had led to public confusion.

The forum linked the non-holding of the MHA meeting, scheduled for October 22 in New Delhi, to repeated postponements, the spread of incorrect information and the neglect of earlier consensus. It cautioned that the situation could negatively affect Leh, particularly its Buddhist community.

It said the negotiation process must be protected from delay tactics and divisive politics. The forum called for panchayat elections and elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in all districts as soon as possible, along with greater powers for the elected bodies. It further demanded that the LAB be reorganised with democratically elected representatives from every district.

While urging that talks continue, the forum said the ground reality makes it untenable for the LAB and KDA to claim that they represent the entire Ladakh region.