Sonam Wangchuk says key points omitted from Ladakh talks draft, warns of hunger strike

SRINAGAR: Fresh differences surfaced Monday over negotiations on Ladakh’s political future after Leh Apex Body (LAB) accused Centre of omitting key provisions from a draft record of May 22 talks and warned of a renewed agitation, including hunger strikes.

LAB member and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk said representatives had agreed during talks with Union home ministry’s sub-committee that Ladakh would get a democratic structure with an assembly-like body enjoying legislative, executive and financial powers, including law-making authority.

“It was decided that Ladakh would have a tailor-made democratic setup with an assembly-like structure,” Wangchuk said, alleging a later govt draft omitted a crucial provision placing bureaucracy under elected representatives. “The draft retained legislative and executive powers but the point that elected representatives would be superior to the bureaucracy was missing.”

Wangchuk said LAB sought corrections but was not shown a revised version. He said LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook refused to sign the minutes after finding the provision still absent. Releasing LAB’s own meeting record, Wangchuk said if corrections were not made, people should prepare for a prolonged struggle, including hunger strikes.

Hours later, Ladakh chief secretary Ashish Kundra, who attended May 22 meeting, said the summary document had been shared in good faith to reflect the broad outcome of discussions and invited objections.

Kundra said talks had exceeded participants’ expectations and covered a constitutional framework for Ladakh on the lines of Article 371. He said discussions also included a customised arrangement featuring a body with political, legislative and executive powers.

“I think there was a broad agreement in principle among all stakeholders on this framework,” Kundra said, adding that details still needed to be worked out and any constitutional changes would require Parliament’s approval.

He said the Centre had asked Ladakh representatives to submit a draft proposal while govt would prepare its own version after consultations with law ministry. “Within a few months it should be able to reach a meaningful outcome,” he said.

May 22 talks in New Delhi involved representatives of LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The dialogue process had stalled after four people were killed and more than 80 wounded in police firing on statehood protesters in Leh on Sept 24, 2025.

Wangchuk, accused of inciting those protests, was arrested under NSA and lodged in Jodhpur jail before Centre revoked his detention in March. Following his release, he pushed for the resumption of talks and participated in the latest round of negotiations. MHA constituted a committee headed by junior minister Nityanand Rai on Jan 2, 2023, to address Ladakh’s key demands. Several rounds of talks have been held since.