On Thursday, the union territory of Ladakh’s elected representatives slammed a 32‑page proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs, insisting on Article 370‑style safeguards that would let the region veto any national law it deems unsuitable.
The draft, unveiled earlier this week, outlined an administrative framework for the UT, a proposed elected body and a set of constitutional safeguards, but it left out the kind of state‑like powers that the leaders now demand.
Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Front, citing a perceived backtrack from earlier agreements, accused the Centre of abandoning earlier commitments and called for full statehood under the 6th Schedule, a provision they say is irrelevant to Ladakh’s unique context.
Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said the Ministry would not submit any amendment unilaterally, insisting the constitutional changes arise from joint deliberations, and urged the leaders to review the draft over the next 10‑15 days before a new meeting.
The Home Ministry has signalled a willingness to explore Article 371‑based safeguards and an elected body that would be neither a UT with a legislature nor a state, but the next round of talks, slated for early next month, will decide whether the compromise can bridge the chasm between the parties.