Sonam Wangchuk criticises Centre as Delhi meeting on Ladakh governance is deferred

Activist Sonam Wangchuk voiced dissatisfaction in New Delhi on Thursday, 22 October, after a scheduled high-level meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding Ladakh's administrative structure did not take place.

Speaking at Ladakh Bhavan alongside advocate Vikram Hegde, Wangchuk said representatives from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had travelled to the capital expecting a point-by-point discussion on the Centre's governance draft. The meeting had been planned during an earlier round of talks in Leh on 15 October.

Institutional engagement and governance proposals

The Union government has maintained structured dialogue with local stakeholders through a High-Level Committee established in 2023 to evaluate constitutional protections for the strategic frontier region. To facilitate talks, the Home Ministry recently shared a 32-page draft presentation outlining a tailored framework intended to balance regional autonomy with national security priorities.

Earlier this month, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra clarified the administration's stance, noting that discussions focus on a custom model under Article 371 of the Constitution rather than granting full statehood or an independent legislature.

Safeguards and strategic considerations

During the press interaction, Hegde noted that civil society delegates had prepared a detailed response to the government's draft, seeking stronger legislative guarantees than those offered under the current Autonomous Hill Council setup.

Wangchuk argued that granting political autonomy with an elected assembly would strengthen regional security along sensitive border areas, citing Arunachal Pradesh as an example of a strategic border state with full statehood.

Wangchuk also referenced local civic issues, highlighting ongoing demonstrations by women's groups in Ladakh regarding the local administration's liquor licensing policy.