Amid lingering tension after the September 24 protests that left four people dead in police firing, the Union Home Ministry has invited representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for a fresh round of talks in New Delhi on October 22. The meeting, scheduled at North Block, will be attended bymembers of the Sub Committee representing the Ladakh leadership.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-chairman Chhering Dorjey has confirmed that a meeting on Ladakh’s key demands will be held on October 22 in Delhi. The talks will take place with the sub-committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
According to the Apex Body, a representative from Delhi visited Ladakh yesterday, and after discussions, the date for the talks was finalized. The Apex Body has also appealed for its legal team to be included in the meeting.
“If the upcoming talks yield positive results, the next round of discussions with the High-Powered Committee (HPC) led by Nityanand Rai will follow,” the Apex members said. “There will be a brief gap between the two meetings to allow us to consult with the people of Ladakh.”
They further added that the talks have been advanced due to the tragic incident in which four people lost their lives, and the Apex hopes this round will bring meaningful progress, unlike previous discussions that failed to produce a concrete outcome.
The Apex Body also emphasized that the judiciary must include local representation to ensure transparency and public trust. Expressing disappointment, members noted that retired officials from Ladakh have remained silent and have not condemned the loss of four young lives.
The Apex delegation comprising Thupstan Chhewang, Tsering Dorjay Lakrook and Ashraf Barch along with lawyers from Leh, as well as Asgar Ali Karbalai, Sajjad Kargili and Qamar Ali Akhoon, and the MP from Kargil will participate in the upcoming talks.
The Apex Body has also called on the youth to join the movement, stating that “ultimately, it is the youth who will carry this struggle forward.”