MHA says talks in last part of January, Ladakh leaders hope talks will be on statehood, Sixth Schedule

SRINAGAR: The Union ministry of home affairs said in a letter to the UT of Ladakh chief secretary on Thursday that the next meeting between its high-powered committee and Ladakh’s leadership will be held in the “last part of January 2026”.

BJP politician and former chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Tashi Gyalson posted the MHA letter on X, welcomed the announcement and thanked Union home minister Amit Shah for the initiative.

Kargil Democratic Alliance’s Sajjad Kargili said “while the announcement may have come later than expected, it is nonetheless a welcome step”.

“We hope the forthcoming meeting will substantively address the core aspirations of the people of Ladakh, particularly the demand for statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, and serious consideration of the draft proposals submitted to the MHA by the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance.”

“We also hope that the high-powered committee will take up humanitarian concerns, including the continued detention of Sonam Wangchuk and others, as well as the issue of compensation for those injured and the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate events of Sept 24,” Kargili said.

In recent times, the first round of talks between the MHA high-powered committee and Ladakhi representatives was held on Oct 22 in New Delhi. Ladakh was represented by Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are amalgams of political and religious groups from the Leh and Kargil regions, respectively.

The first round of the talks took place after the Centre ordered an inquiry into the Sept 24 police firing on protesters in Leh who were demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the region. Four protesters were killed in the firing. After the commission was set up, LAB and KDA agreed to begin talks with the Centre, leading to the Oct 22 meeting.

On Nov 14, LAB and KDA submitted a 29-page joint draft proposal to the MHA seeking statehood and Sixth Schedule status. The proposal also sought general amnesty for LAB member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others detained after the Sept 24 protests.