LAB, KDA insist on Statehood, 6th Schedule
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: Held after nearly three and half months, the High Powered Committee (HPC) meeting of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Ladakh in New Delhi remained inconclusive.
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Chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, the meeting was attended by Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) representatives, Ladakh MP, Hill Council Kargil CEC and senior officers of the MHA among others.
The meeting lasted over two hours.
Chering Dorjay Lakruk, co-chairman LAB told the Excelsior on telephone from New Delhi that they reiterated their stand on Statehood and Sixth Schedule status which they had submitted to the MHA in the form of a comprehensive document.
“Ours and the Government perceptions were different,” Lakruk said, adding the meeting remained inconclusive in the absence of a common ground.
However, as per sources, it has been decided that next meeting will be held shortly within 15-20 days for further discussions.
Soon after the HPC meeting, the LAB and KDA held their joint meeting in New Delhi to discuss outcome of the dialogue.
The draft proposal submitted by the LAB and KDA to the MHA in November last year regarding Statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the sixth schedule of the Constitution, thus giving it a tribal status, was discussed at the meeting.
The leaders also demanded the unconditional release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others who were detained after the September 24, 2025, violence in Leh in which four persons were killed, and others were injured.
The last talks were held on October 22, 2025.
The meeting continued for three hours, but the MHA officials only offered safeguards available under Article 371 of the Constitution and strengthening the Hill Councils.
The issue of job aspirants was also discussed.
The LAB and KDA have been demanding full statehood for Ladakh with its own legislative assembly to ensure greater political representation and self-governance, to protect the unique culture and fragile ecosystem, and land rights of the predominantly tribal population by granting autonomous district councils and two Lok Sabha seats.
A meeting between leaders of Ladakh and home ministry representatives took place in October 2025 for sub-committee level talks, where the Ladakh representatives had demanded an immediate release of all arrested leaders, including Wangchuk.
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