StatesLadakh
Sonam Wangchuk says Ladakh talks were called off and accuses Centre of walking back promises
The climate activist said he had booked his ticket for Thursday's round with the Home Ministry, only to be told it was not happening.
Key points
- Wangchuk said the round of talks expected on 22 October did not take place.
- He said the Centre was moving away from every promise, including Sixth Schedule safeguards.
- Leh and Kargil groups had rejected a Centre draft that they said went back on a May understanding.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday accused the Centre of backing away from its promises to Ladakh, saying a round of talks that the Home Ministry had indicated for 22 October had been called off.
“I booked my ticket… but now it is being told that these talks are not happening today,” Wangchuk said in a video message. Home Ministry officials had signalled another round after inconclusive talks the previous week.
Wangchuk said the government was retreating from its first commitment, to extend Sixth Schedule safeguards to the region. “They are moving away from every promise,” he said. “People are very sad in this border region.”
He said China does not recognise Ladakh as part of India, but that India “is not behaving well with us.” Ladakh’s people, he said, were being denied democracy because they do not have the same standing as other Indians to express their aspirations through the vote.
The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which lead the Ladakh movement, have rejected a draft proposal from the Centre. They say it goes back on assurances given at a meeting in May, when both sides reached an in-principle understanding on constitutional safeguards along the lines of Articles 371A, 371F and 371G, which protect Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram.
The Union Territory administration has said the Centre remains committed to a political solution and expressed disappointment that the draft was turned down.
The Home Ministry has not announced a new date for talks.