Leh Apex Body co-chairman Chering Dorjay (centre) with other members addresses a press conference in Leh, Ladakh on September 29, 2025.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been spearheading the movement for constitutional safeguards in Ladakh, have called off the proposed talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials in Delhi on September 30, saying “talks cannot be held at gunpoint.”
Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, co-convenor of the LAB, said that the government and a section of the media has made baseless allegations calling the Ladakhis “anti-nationals,” accusing them of colluding with “foreign elements”, and for having “links with Pakistan.”
“We would continue to welcome the discussion with the LAB and the KDA through the high powered committee (HPC) on Ladakh or any such platform,” the statement said.
LAB members say that the lack of commitment on the part of the government to conduct a judicial enquiry into the death of four people in police action during September 24 protests in Leh city was the primary reason behind the decision.
Mr. Lakruk said, “Our children were shot in the head. Judicial enquiry should be held. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) fired at our people without the permission of the district magistrate. We have proof to support this. Several young people and bystanders have been picked up, they have examinations.”
He said 50 people have been detained by the police.
The September 30 meeting was to be a preliminary meeting before the October 6 HPC dialogue.
“Till the time the tag of anti-nationals on our children is not removed, we will not participate in the talks with government. Ladakhis will not tolerate this,” he said.
Mr. Lakruk also raised the restrictions imposed on the people from participating in the cremation of two of the four deceased persons on Monday. Among those who were cremated on Monday were Tsewang Tharchin (46), a retired solider who fought during the 1999 Kargil war.
“People were stopped from joining the cremation procession. This has led to huge resentment and anger among the people. The government is responsible for the youth hitting the streets. We condemn the violence but the delay in initiating the talks acted like a pressure cooker for the youth,” he added.
Speaking on climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA), Mr. Lakruk said, “They are levelling all kinds of allegations. Were the government agencies sleeping till now? They started finding irregularities with Wangchuk’s institute only after he raised his voice for Ladakh. The want to silence us. How can we hold talks at gunpoint?”
The MHA statement added that the dialogue mechanism established with the LAB and the KDA through the HPC has yielded good results till date in the form of increased reservations to the Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh, providing women reservation in hill councils, and protection to local languages. The process of recruitment for 1,800 posts in government has already commenced in the Union Territory of Ladakh, it said.
On September 24, the MHA officials accused Mr. Wangchuk of making “provocative statements” which triggered the violence on September 24. Mr. Wangchuk and 15 others were on the 15th day of their 35-day hunger strike on behalf of the LAB and the KDA when violence erupted. The civil society groups are demanding Statehood and inclusion under sixth schedule of the Constitution, giving it a tribal status.
Ladakh became a UT without legislative assembly in 2019 after the special status of J&K under Article 370 of the Constitution was read down by Parliament.
