Ladakh civil society groups submit list of non-negotiable points to MHA officials, Chief Secretary in Leh

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A protester from Ladakh holds a placard demanding statehood and other democratic rights for their region during a protest in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. File | Photo Credit: AP

Ladakh civil society representatives, campaigning for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status, on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) submitted a list of “non-negotiable points” to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials and Ladakh Chief Secretary (CS) Ashish Kundra during an informal meeting in Leh, ahead of the likely formal meeting in September this year.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) submitted a list of “non-negotiable points”, which stressed “having an Assembly called the Ladakh Legislative Assembly, headed by a Chief Minister and a council of Ministers” in the region. It put forth the demand that the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh “should act on the aid and advice of the Assembly in order to prevent conflicts as seen in some UTs.”

The civil society bodies also underlined that the elected Ladakh Legislative Assembly must have “meaningful and constitutionally protected control over taxation, Budget, appropriation, expenditure, borrowing and public funds, including a constitutionally protected Consolidated Fund and Contingency Fund”.

“The U.T.-level elected Legislature must be directly elected, constitutionally empowered,” it said.

It said that Home Affairs must be placed substantially “under the democratic control of the elected Government and Ladakh Legislative Assembly”. They also called for a separate Public Service Commission, together with distinct Ladakh Administrative and Police Services.

“We expect a formal meeting in the first or second week of September. In today’s informal meeting, we put forth non-negotiable points,” said LAB president Chering Dorjay Lakrook.

He also questioned the composition of the members who are speaking to the MHA’s high-powered committee. “Members who are not part of the earlier list of the MHA are attending these meetings. If they join the formal meetings as observers it’s fine but they put forth point only government version during the meetings

Mr. Lakrook also demanded the withdrawal of cases against locals who participated in protests in September 2025. Four civilians died during street agitation in September last year, and around 90, including security personnel, were injured.

The LAB and KDA are observing September as ‘Martyrs’ Month’ and plan to pay tribute to those who died during the agitation over Statehood and Sixth Schedule demands.

Sajjaf Kargili, a member of the KDA said, the list of non-negotiable points submitted “clearly outlines our key demands and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh”.

“We also submitted a resolution demanding the unconditional withdrawal of all cases against those affected by the 24 September incident, along with dignified and adequate compensation for the victims and their families,” said Mr. Kargilli.