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Exactly a month after their “successful and meaningful” meeting with representatives of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the agitating groups of Ladakh have called for a complete shutdown on June 23, alleging that the government is resorting to delay tactics in implementing the decisions taken during the May 22 meeting.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) announced that a complete bandh would be observed across Ladakh, alleging that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Union Territory administration are delaying the implementation of commitments made during the May 22 meeting in New Delhi and failing to accurately reflect the agreed points in the official minutes of the meeting.

Addressing a joint press conference along with KDA leaders, LAB Co-Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said that the agitating groups had discussed the May 22 MHA sub-committee meeting in detail and expressed serious concern that key decisions taken during the meeting were not properly reflected in the official minutes.

He specifically referred to issues relating to control over government employees, the authority to write Annual Performance Reports (APRs) of senior bureaucrats, and constitutional safeguards based on Articles 371(A), 371(G), and 371(F).

According to him, these were among the most crucial issues discussed and agreed upon during the meeting.

“We expect the government to rectify the minutes of the meeting and ensure that all decisions taken during the discussions are accurately reflected,” he said, adding, “It cannot be a case of taking two steps forward and two steps backward. Such an approach only raises doubts about the government’s intentions.”

Lakrook alleged that while the government appears to be buying time, the people of Ladakh are fully aware of developments taking place behind closed doors. He warned the government against assuming that the ongoing visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama would prevent people from protesting.

“We have many ways to protest. The government should not think it has two months to continue delaying decisions while selling Ladakh’s interests,” he said.

Announcing the June 23 programme, Lakrook said Leh would witness a major public gathering, while a complete shutdown would be observed across Ladakh, including Kargil. All shops and business establishments will remain closed. However, taxis and transport services have been exempted in view of the ongoing tourist season.

KDA Co-Chairman Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai said that the May 22 meeting had focused on Ladakh’s demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards. He stated that during the discussions, the MHA had proposed a democratic setup with legislative, executive, and financial powers for Ladakh.

According to him, the proposed structure would function like a legislative assembly with powers to legislate on all Union Territory subjects. It would have executive powers headed by a Chief Minister and would also enjoy financial authority.

He further claimed that the MHA had proposed constitutional safeguards under a new provision tentatively referred to as Article 371(K), drawing from the strongest provisions of Articles 371(A), 371(G), and 371(F), after indicating that Sixth Schedule status was not feasible at present.

He said one of the key assurances given during the meeting was that the entire bureaucracy, including the chief secretary, would function under the elected executive, thereby ensuring that administrative powers remained with Ladakh’s democratic institutions.

“These were the core points agreed upon in principle, but they are missing from the minutes of the meeting. We were assured that within days, the final draft and complete minutes would be shared. Nearly a month has passed, and neither has happened,” he said.

The leaders accused the government of repeating old delay tactics and warned that Ladakh’s patience had limits.

“We have tolerated enough. If the government crosses the limits of our patience, this movement can take any form. At that stage, the Apex Body and KDA should not be blamed,” he said.

The organisations also accused the UT administration of pursuing policies in sectors such as power, land, transport, and tourism without consulting Ladakhi stakeholders. While refraining from disclosing details, they alleged that efforts were being made to weaken Ladakh’s democratic rights and constitutional protections.

Centre, agitating groups reached consensus on democratic governance during May 22 meeting

It is pertinent to mention here that during the May 22 meeting, the agitating groups of Ladakh had reached an in-principle understanding with the Government of India on restoring democratic governance in the Union Territory and providing constitutional safeguards on the lines of Article 371 provisions applicable to states such as Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram.

The understanding was reached during a meeting of a subcommittee comprising senior representatives of the LAB, KDA, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which deliberated on the future administrative and political framework of Ladakh.

“Things will be worked out in due course of time, but one thing is clear: we have reached a consensus on having a Union Territory with a legislature,” Chhering Dorjey, Co-Convenor of the Leh Apex Body, had told The International Business Times shortly after the May 22 meeting.

The joint press note issued by the LAB and KDA after the meeting indicated that the Centre and the protesting groups had reached a broad consensus on ending the prolonged agitation.

“LAB and KDA today reached an in-principle understanding with the Government of India on restoring democracy in Ladakh and providing constitutional safeguards on the lines of Articles 371A, 371F, and 371G (as applicable to Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram),” the press note had stated.

“During the meeting, both LAB and KDA reiterated the long-standing aspirations of the people of Ladakh regarding the restoration of democracy, constitutional safeguards, and the demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections, reflecting the shared commitment of all stakeholders towards an inclusive and sustainable governance framework for the region,” the statement had said.