MHA-Led HPC Talks on Ladakh End Without Breakthrough | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The High-Powered Committee (HPC) meeting convened by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to discuss issues related to Ladakh concluded without any concrete outcome in New Delhi, officials sources said.

The meeting, held after a gap of nearly three-and-a-half months, was chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and was attended by representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), Ladakh Member of Parliament, Chief Executive Councillor of Hill Council Kargil, and senior MHA officials.

Sources said that the deliberations continued for over two hours but failed to reach a consensus. Co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body, Chering Dorjay Lakruk, said over the phone from New Delhi that the representatives firmly reiterated their long-standing demand for full statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

“We placed our detailed document before the Ministry, but there was a clear difference in perception between us and the government,” Lakruk said, adding that the absence of common ground led to the meeting remaining inconclusive.

However, sources indicated that both sides agreed to hold another round of talks within the next 15 to 20 days to continue the dialogue.

Following the HPC meeting, LAB and KDA leaders held a joint discussion in New Delhi to review the outcome. The draft proposal submitted by the two bodies to the MHA in November last year, seeking statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh to safeguard tribal rights, land, and ecology, was again deliberated.

The leaders also raised the issue of the unconditional release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others detained after the September 24, 2025 violence in Leh, which claimed four lives and left several injured.

Sources said the MHA officials reiterated safeguards under Article 371 of the Constitution and strengthening of Hill Councils, but did not concede to the demand for statehood. Issues related to job aspirants from Ladakh were also discussed during the meeting.

The LAB and KDA have consistently been demanding full statehood with a legislative assembly, greater political representation, protection of land and employment rights, preservation of Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem, and two Lok Sabha seats for the region.

Notably, the previous round of talks between Ladakh leaders and the Home Ministry was held on October 22, 2025, including sub-committee level discussions where immediate release of detained leaders was also demanded. (KNC)