Ladakh-Centre talks resume in Delhi amid confidence-building measures

A fresh round of talks between Ladakh's civil society groups and the Union Home Ministry's High-Powered Committee (HPC) is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in New Delhi. Delegations from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) arrived in the capital on Tuesday ahead of the meeting.

The dialogue follows a May 22 round in which the Centre offered a "customised sui generis model" through additions to Article 371. The government had also indicated that statehood remains a long-term aspiration while proposing a Union Territory-level elected body with executive, financial, and legislative powers.

Ahead of this round, the Lieutenant Governor-led administration has announced several measures, including the establishment of a High Court bench in Ladakh, approval of rules granting proprietary rights to genuine Nautor landholders, and the creation of hill councils for all seven districts, including five newly formed ones.

KDA member Sajjar Kargili said the groups will press for inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to safeguard land, culture, jobs, ecology, and identity. He expressed disappointment that land-related decisions were made without consulting stakeholders, and called for the proposed hill councils to be autonomous with constitutional powers similar to those in the North-East.

The delegations are also expected to raise the withdrawal of police cases against locals involved in last September's protests over statehood and Sixth Schedule demands, as well as compensation for four civilians who died and others injured during those demonstrations.

In the meantime, protest marches planned under 'Martyrs Month' have been called off in view of the resumption of talks.