Centre to hold fresh Ladakh talks on September 9 amid statehood demand

Srinagar: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is holding another round of talks with representatives from Ladakh on September 9 in Delhi, according to chief secretary of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra. “This is part of the ongoing dialogue for deepening democratic processes in Ladakh,” he said.

After abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A), when Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the representatives of Ladakh formed the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance to fight for the statehood of Ladakh, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the constitution, a separate Public Service Commission and increase in Lok Sabha seats.

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After several protests over the years, the central government started the dialogue process with them which was stalled on September 24, 2025, when a peaceful protest turned violent and armed forces killed at least four civilians, injured over 80 and arrested 87 others, including Sonam Wangchuk.

Following the announcement of a judicial inquiry, the release of everyone booked for the September incident and promise of a fair probe, the dialogue resumed early this year. Recently, FIRs against 25 people were revoked. This August, representatives from Ladakh submitted a “non-negotiable” resolution during a meeting in New Delhi demanding among other things a legislative assembly for Ladakh, with its powers and functions based on Lists I and III of the Seventh Schedule under Article 246 of the Constitution and, where required, the Union Territories Act, 1963, along with constitutional safeguards under relevant provisions of Article 371. They also demanded that home affairs be placed under the elected government, like that in Puducherry.

The meeting was announced at a time when the Socialist Party and other civil and political organisations announced a padyatra from September 10 to 24 to extend solidarity and support for Ladakh’s demand for statehood, Sixth Schedule and justice for victims of September 24, 2025 incident. KDA has announced its support for the yatra as well.

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Meanwhile, Lieutenant governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the notification for the creation of seven Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in all seven districts of the UT. The central government had announced the creation of new LAHDCs in Ladakh on July 13.

The LG thanked PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the historic step, stating that the establishment of the seven councils will decentralise and strengthen participatory local governance, allowing local aspirations to be reflected in district-level planning and development.

With the approval, LAHDCs will now be extended to all seven districts of Ladakh – Leh, Kargil, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass. The framework of elected local self-governance, which was earlier limited to Leh and Kargil, will be also extended to the five newly-created districts in the UT.

“The creation of Autonomous Hill Development Councils in all seven districts is a milestone in strengthening grassroots governance in Ladakh. This will empower people and enable development to be more responsive to local needs and aspirations,” said Saxena.