After a prolonged stalemate lasting several months, the crucial High-Powered Committee (HPC) formed to address the aspirations of the Ladakhi people is scheduled to hold its next meeting in the final part of January 2025. The committee, constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and chaired by Minister of State Nityanand Rai, is set to reconvene in New Delhi, marking a potential breakthrough in the protracted dialogue.
Background and Core Demands
The HPC was established in 2023 with a mandate to deliberate on measures to safeguard Ladakh's distinct cultural identity and language, considering its unique geographical and strategic position. A central part of its charter is to examine potential constitutional safeguards for the region. However, negotiations between the Centre and Ladakh's principal representative bodies—the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance—have been deadlocked since May 2024.
The core demands from Ladakh's leadership remain unchanged: full statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for autonomy and land protection, and the establishment of a legislative assembly. The MHA has previously indicated that granting Sixth Schedule status is not feasible, a position reiterated by Home Minister Amit Shah after meetings with the groups.
The Path to the January Meeting
The journey to this upcoming meeting has been fraught with delays and tensions. An HPC meeting was initially slated for October 6, 2024, but was called off after constituent groups withdrew from talks. This boycott followed the tragic police firing on September 24, 2024, which resulted in four civilian fatalities. The groups had set preconditions for re-engagement, including a judicial inquiry into the incident.
In a move to restart dialogue, the MHA extended a fresh invitation in late December for the committee to assemble in the last week of January. The ministry has requested members to propose a convenient set of dates for the New Delhi meeting.
Humanitarian Concerns on the Agenda
HPC member Sajjad Kargili expressed hope that the forthcoming session would substantively address Ladakh's core political demands. He also emphasized that the agenda must include pressing humanitarian issues. These include the continued detention of prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk and others, as well as providing compensation for the families of those killed and for individuals injured during the September unrest.
Another member, former Leh Chief Executive Councillor Tashi Gyalson, acknowledged the Home Minister's engagement, thanking him for standing with the people of Ladakh.
Accomplishments and Ongoing Sticking Points
Despite the impasse on major political demands, the HPC has facilitated some significant protections for Ladakhis. Key achievements include:
- A 15-year prospective domicile policy, requiring continuous residence from 2019 onward, unlike Jammu and Kashmir's retrospective clause.
- A 95% reservation quota for locals in government recruitment, approved in December 2023.
However, talks ground to a halt in March 2024 over the Sixth Schedule issue. In a subsequent attempt to find middle ground in October, the Centre suggested discussing alternative constitutional guarantees, potentially under Article 371, as a topic for negotiation, inviting the groups back to the table.
As Ladakh awaits the late-January meeting, stakeholders and observers hope the dialogue will move beyond the current deadlock and offer a concrete path forward to address the region's long-standing constitutional and political aspirations.
