BJP leader urges Amit Shah to convene next round of talks with Ladakh groups

Senior BJP leader and former Chairman of the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Tashi Gyalson, on Saturday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convene the next round of talks with Ladakh-based groups to address the region’s long-pending issues.

Gyalson met the Home Minister in New Delhi, where he discussed key developmental and administrative matters concerning the cold desert region.

He expressed gratitude to Shah for his recent intervention in delegating enhanced financial powers to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, a move he said would improve administrative efficiency and streamline governance in the Union Territory.

During the meeting, Gyalson requested the Home Minister to notify the next meeting of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) to continue deliberations on Ladakh’s core demands. These include inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, statehood, the establishment of a separate Public Service Commission, and an increase in Lok Sabha representation from one to two seats.

The High-Powered Committee, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, was constituted three years ago to hold talks with Ladakh groups led by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). Several rounds of discussions have already been held.

Gyalson also sought the issuance of formal notifications and operationalisation of the newly created districts of Zanskar, Nubra, Changthang, Sham and Drass to strengthen grassroots governance.

He further urged the immediate release of the Special Development Package (SDP), State Sector and District Capex funds for LAHDC Leh and Kargil to clear liabilities and ensure uninterrupted execution of ongoing development projects.

The rationalisation of boundaries of the Changthang and Nubra wildlife sanctuaries, with an emphasis on balancing conservation goals and community needs, was also discussed.

Additionally, Gyalson raised the issue of wage hikes for daily wagers and sought the extension of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) benefits to daily wagers previously excluded across various government departments.