Leh, Sept 29: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Monday suspended talks with the Centre, setting strict preconditions that include a judicial inquiry into police firing on September 24 and the unconditional release of detained activists, including climate campaigner Sonam Wangchuk.
LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang and co-chairman Chering Dorjay said dialogue could only resume in a “conducive atmosphere,” stressing that the government must act before the October 6 meeting date. The decision came hours after the cremation of the fourth protester killed in the clashes, a retired Army soldier.
The Home Ministry responded late in the evening, saying the government remained committed to dialogue with LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) through the High-Powered Committee or other platforms. It highlighted past gains, including increased tribal reservations, women’s reservation in LAHDCs, language protections, and ongoing recruitment for 1,800 posts, and expressed confidence that “continuous dialogue would yield the desired results.”
Curfew remained in force in Leh, with only a two-hour relaxation on Monday. Internet services stayed suspended, leaving tourists stranded and adding to the blow suffered by Ladakh’s fragile tourism sector.
Chhewang accused security forces of using “excessive force” during the protests, alleging that CRPF firing caused the deaths and fueled fear and anger. He also rejected allegations branding protesters and Wangchuk as “anti-national,” calling them “intolerable.”
The LAB, formed after Ladakh was carved into a Union Territory in 2019, is demanding statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, a separate public service commission, and distinct Lok Sabha representation. The leadership said these demands, under discussion for five years, remain unaddressed, and that the September 24 violence had derailed the process.
The KDA’s stance was not immediately known after LAB’s decision, though its leaders have also pressed for Wangchuk’s release and warned against alienating Ladakhis. Stakeholders in tourism, meanwhile, voiced concern that the unrest, coming after recent setbacks, has further undermined visitor confidence in the region.
(Agencies)
