Leh, September 12: Senior Ladakh leader and former Member of Parliament Thupstan Chhewang has urged political and social leaders in the Union Territory to leverage the progress achieved in recent discussions with the central government rather than resorting to further protests.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Chhewang, who previously chaired the Leh Apex Body (LAB) before resigning last year, participated in a meeting with a sub-committee of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on September 9. This engagement followed a period where the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had expressed disappointment with previous outcomes, specifically the absence of a draft proposal for an elected body in Ladakh.
Chhewang stated that the recent meeting with the MHA was productive, yielding positive discussions on several critical issues concerning Ladakh. He expressed his concern that the public had not been fully informed about the positive developments and points of consensus reached during the talks. The former MP highlighted that discussions covered the framework for a potential institutional mechanism at the Union Territory level, including its powers, composition, and electoral system. This proposed body could potentially have a role in managing land, culture, environment, and mineral resources, alongside financial autonomy.
Deliberations also addressed representation within this structure, ensuring it reflects Ladakh’s tribal character. Chhewang noted that while demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule remain significant aspects of political discourse, the recent discussions have increasingly focused on identifying practical constitutional and administrative safeguards for the region.
He further elaborated that recruitment processes and constitutional safeguards were extensively discussed, with a consensus emerging on certain points, including the demand for provisions under Article 371, a topic also explored in a previous meeting on May 22. Chhewang emphasized that the dialogue had reached a point where there is a shared understanding to move forward with the proposed Union Territory-level body. He attributed any perceived delays not to the MHA but to internal differences within the LAB and KDA regarding the sequencing and implementation of these proposed institutions.
Chhewang specifically criticized climate activist and LAB member Sonam Wangchuk’s call for renewed agitation, which included an ultimatum tied to the fulfilment of Ladakh’s demands. Chhewang questioned the necessity of further protests when dialogue with the MHA had shown progress. He recalled the serious consequences of a previous incident on September 24 and cautioned against any actions that could precipitate a similar situation.
In a direct address, Chhewang suggested that if Wangchuk and the Apex Body were intent on continuing with agitation, they might consider holding it in Kargil, suggesting that the region had a more pronounced interest in pursuing certain demands. He noted that Leh had borne the brunt of past struggles, while Kargil had reaped benefits from subsequent developments.
The former MP appealed to the LAB and Wangchuk to act responsibly and avoid any actions that could escalate tensions in Ladakh. He urged that the recent MHA dialogue be viewed as a step forward in the negotiation process, with the focus now shifting to finalizing the proposed UT-level body, strengthening district councils, securing constitutional safeguards, and progressing through an agreed institutional framework, rather than immediately reverting to confrontation.
The Chenab Times News Desk