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Sonam Wangchuk urges Centre to resume talks with Ladakh groups (Img: Internet)
Srinagar: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has urged the Centre to resume dialogue with key Ladakh groups, warning that continued delays are widening a trust gap in the strategically important region.
Negotiations between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and two Ladakh-based groups- Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance have remained stalled since violence broke out in Leh in September last year. The unrest led to police firing in which four people lost their lives.
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Following the incident, Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act and spent six months in custody before being released.
The last round of talks between the Centre and Ladakh representatives was held on February 4 in New Delhi. However, the meeting ended without any clear outcome, and no date has been announced for the next round of discussions.
Wangchuk expressed concern that more than two months have passed without any progress, leaving people in the region uncertain about the future of negotiations.
He also warned that the lack of communication is creating space for divisive elements to deepen differences between Leh and Kargil. According to Wangchuk, sustained engagement is necessary to maintain unity and prevent further tensions in the region.
The deadlock has led to protests in Ladakh, with leaders from the Kargil Democratic Alliance reiterating their demands for greater political representation. These include calls for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Despite multiple rounds of discussions since 2020, local groups have expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of concrete outcomes.
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Wangchuk has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to take timely steps to resolve the issue. He stressed that restoring dialogue is essential in the national interest, given Ladakh’s strategic significance.
With no clarity on when talks will resume, concerns remain over rising frustration among residents. Experts believe that restarting the dialogue process will be crucial to rebuilding trust and addressing long-standing demands in the region.
