Two days after Ladakh-based groups engaged in talks with the Centre announced an “in-principle understanding” on constitutional safeguards, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairman Sajjad Kargili on Sunday clarified that no final agreement had been reached and discussions with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) were still underway.
The KDA and Leh Apex Body (LAB) have been holding talks with the MHA for the past five years. The latest round of sub-committee-level discussions between the MHA and Ladakh groups was held in New Delhi on Friday.
In a post on X on Sunday, Sajjad Kargili said, “Negotiations are a continuous process, and discussions are still underway. As of now, no final agreement or concrete outcome has been reached. We had shared our draft proposals demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status, and the Government has now responded with certain suggestions. They are expected to come up with a formal draft before the next meeting.”
He added that once the draft is received, detailed consultations would be held with constitutional and legal experts, along with representatives of the KDA and LAB, to examine whether the proposed framework genuinely safeguards the interests and aspirations of Ladakh.
“We will also assess its implications on regional balance, sensitivities, long-term safeguards and the democratic structure. Until such a comprehensive review is undertaken, it would be prudent to avoid both unnecessary excitement and undue pessimism,” Kargili said.
In a statement issued after Friday’s meeting, the LAB and KDA had said they had 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, applicable to Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram.
During the meeting, both organisations reiterated the long-standing aspirations of the people of Ladakh regarding restoration of democracy, constitutional safeguards, and demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections, reflecting a shared commitment towards an inclusive and sustainable governance framework for the region.
“Following detailed and constructive deliberations, both sides arrived at an in-principle understanding on several critical points. Under this model, legislative, executive and financial powers will rest with elected representatives through a Union Territory-level legislative body. All bureaucrats of the UT, including the Chief Secretary, will come under the executive head of the elected body, proposed to be the Chief Minister,” the statement said.
