‘Chai was nice, but nothing moved forward’: Sonam Wangchuk on Ladakh talks

'Chai was nice, but nothing moved forward': Sonam Wangchuk on Ladakh discussions A day after their gathering with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) Thursday noted there had.

Key points

• 5 min read New Delhi Sep 11, 2026 05: 05 AM IST First published on: Sep 11, 2026 at 05: 03 AM IST.
• The September 24, 2025 violence additionally remained a major point of contention.
• The leaders additionally responded to remarks produced by Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra at a press conference in Leh Thursday.
• What is Article 371(K), and what could it mean for Ladakh?
• "We have told the MHA that until this draft for Article 371K is prepared, the UT administration should not take any major decisions, " he remarked.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk remarked the dialogue was cordial, but produced no substantive outcome. (Image source: X/ @Wangchuk66). Written by: Deeptiman Tiwary.

For context, a day after their session with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) Thursday stated there had been no movement on their core demands and threatened to step up their agitation in Ladakh. The two bodies remarked they were planning to hold a padyatra from September 19 to 24 if the administration did not come up with a concrete proposal within a week.

At a press conference in Delhi, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. This person was part of the Ladakh delegation, remarked the negotiations were cordial but produced no substantive outcome. "The talks were cordial, chai was nice, but nothing has moved forward, " Wangchuk remarked. The leaders had projected the gathering to produce a draft proposal after the "in-principle understanding" reached with the Centre on May 22, he remarked.

Wangchuk remarked the delegation had presented a list of "non-negotiables" – supremacy of the elected UT-level leader over the bureaucracy, control over law and order – and an assurance that no major decisions concerning Ladakh and its administration would be taken before the proposed democratic structure was established. "None of these were addressed, " Wangchuk remarked.

Meanwhile, the leaders had additionally sought an assurance against irreversible decisions relating to land allotment and the grassroots democratic structure. "Even on these no assurances were given, " Wangchuk remarked.

For context, the LAB and KDA had remarked after Wednesday's gathering that the MHA had proposed a directly elected UT-level body with legislative powers over land, culture and language, forests, and environment and natural resources, besides executive, budgetary, planning, and financial powers. But they flagged the lack of clarity over the body's overall powers, particularly law and order.

Notably, the matter of bureaucratic control has been a key point in the negotiations. The final minutes of the May 22 session, endorsed on July 3, recorded that "control and supervision, including Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR)", over civil servants dealing with subjects under the jurisdiction of the proposed elected body would be exercised by the elected executive body.

Notably, the leaders, nevertheless, stated Wednesday's session did not provide the broader clarity they were seeking.

Wangchuk additionally questioned the timing of the gathering, saying it appeared to have been called to persuade them to defer a padyatra planned for September 10, in which individuals from nationwide were anticipated to participate.

"If we don't obtain any assurance in the next one week, we will be compelled to step up our agitation in Ladakh. The padyatra will commence from September 19 till September 24 if the administration does not offer us a concrete proposal, " he remarked. Responding to Chief Secretary's comments.

In practice, the leaders additionally responded to remarks produced by Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra at a press conference in Leh Thursday.

KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili remarked the MHA had been anticipated to bring a comprehensive draft on the proposed constitutional safeguards under Article 371K at Wednesday's session, but no such draft was presented. Instead, he remarked, the leaders were asked questions on the proposed governance structure during the gathering. Kundra referred to these questions at his press conference Thursday.

"We were not there to appear for a NEET exam. We were there to demand a democratic set up for Ladakh, " Kargili remarked.

Meanwhile, the questions, according to the leaders, concerned the designation of the head of the administration, the structure of the proposed Assembly, the executive structure and financial powers.

Kargili remarked the Ladakh groups had been demanding a administration draft for the past year and had already submitted three draft proposals of their own.

"But the administration has not come up with even one till now. It demonstrates the administration is not sincere. Only when individuals talk of agitation and padyatra, meetings are called, " he stated.

LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook remarked the questions should have been part of an agenda circulated before the gathering if the administration anticipated the leaders to come prepared with proposals.

Notably, the leaders additionally accused the Ladakh administration of taking decisions on land and the region's democratic structure while negotiations with the Centre were continuing. Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa Jaan remarked the UT administration was "sabotaging the good intention that MHA is showing".

For context, the September 24, 2025 violence additionally remained a major point of contention. Four individuals were killed during the agitation, and the LAB and KDA have been demanding withdrawal of cases registered against protesters.

Kargili remarked the MHA had assured them that cases would be withdrawn in phases, but they wanted all cases withdrawn immediately. They additionally sought early compensation for those killed and injured. Lakrook questioned the delay in the inquiry into the September 24 violence. An inquiry commission was constituted and a number of residents had deposed before it, he noted, but its findings had not yet emerged. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd.

In short, 'Chai was nice, but nothing moved forward': Sonam Wangchuk on Ladakh talks is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.