Ladakh representatives draw the hard line: Give us an assembly, drop cases | India News
SRINAGAR: At a meeting with Union home ministry officials in Leh on Wednesday, Ladakhi representatives sought a legislative assembly for Ladakh headed by a chief minister, withdrawal of cases against all those booked in connection with the Sept 24 violence last year and compensation for those killed in the unrest.They warned that if their demands are not met, they would revive demands of Sixth Schedule and restoration of statehood for Ladakh and launch an agitation if the process is further delayed.Talking to reporters Wednesday evening, representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), two main political groupings of the region, said they submitted a signed memorandum outlining their “non-negotiable” demands to MHA officials, making it clear there should be no diversion from these points and they are not ready talk about development programmes.The representatives, including LAB member Sonam Wangchuk, jointly addressed media after the talks. They said the next meeting, due in New Delhi in the first week of Sept, should focus on the proposed legislature for Ladakh, its financial powers and constitutional safeguards.
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They said they have submitted the demands to the MHA “in light of the broad understanding reached between the MHA and the two bodies in New Delhi on May 22.”On May 22, the MHA’s sub-committee had held talks with Ladakh representatives in New Delhi.The MHA had formed a committee on Jan 2, 2023, led by junior minister Nityanand Rai, to address key issues of Ladakh. Since then, several rounds of talks have been held.The process stopped after four people were killed and over 80 injured in alleged police firing on protesters in Leh demanding statehood on Sept 24, 2025.Wangchuk, who was accused of inciting the protesters, was arrested, charged under NSA and kept in Jodhpur jail. The Centre revoked his NSA detention in March this year. After his release, Wangchuk has pressed for such talks. He was part of May 22 talks with the Centre.