LEH: Ladakh-based civil society umbrella groups, Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), on Saturday (June 20, 2026) called for a shutdown on June 23 against the Centre’s “backtracking on May 22 decisions” and “delay in releasing the agreed upon minutes of the meeting”. We have called for a complete shutdown on June 23 in Ladakh. All shops and business centres will remain closed. Only transport will be allowed because of the ongoing tourist season,” said LAB chairman Tsering Dorjey Lakrook, in a joint press conference with members of the KDA.
Giving reasons for the shutdown call, Lakrook accused the Centre of backtracking on the assurances made during the meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and six-member committee of the civil society group in New Delhi on May 22.
“On May 22, the MHA sub-committee agreed to certain decisions. However, the minutes of the meeting did not reflect it later. It is a cause of concern. The Centre should release the minutes of the meeting and reflect the decisions taken. The Centre should stand by the May 22 decisions. We suspect the intentions of the Centre. It should not be that we take one step forward and two steps backward,” said Lakrook.
He accused the Centre of planning to use the upcoming two-month visit of the Dalai Lama to Ladakh as “an excuse to delay the implementation of the decisions”. “If the Centre thinks that the Dalai Lama’s visit to Ladakh will silence us, it’s mistaken. Under the garb of the two-month tour, we fear decision after decision will be taken to sell Ladakh. We are aware of what is happening behind the doors,” said Lakrook.
Elaborating on the May 22 meeting, KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai said it was agreed to address the Statehood demand by “creating a legislature under an elected Chief Minister”. “It was agreed in principle that the legislature will have executive, legislative and financial powers over matters concerning locals,” said Karbalai.
On constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, Mr. Karbalai said it was agreed to grant special powers under Articles 371A, F and G of the Constitution as guaranteed in these provisions. “We were told the best provisions under these sections will be included under [proposed] Article 371K for Ladakh. It also promised to bring bureaucracy, including the Chief Secretary, under the executive. We were told the minutes of the meeting will be released in days but have not happened till date,” said Karbalai.
Besides the members of the LAB and KDA, Ladakh Member of Parliament Hanifa Jan and activist Sonam Wangchuk also attended the meeting, where it was decided to go ahead with the shutdown in Ladakh on June 23.
Commenting on Mr. Wangchuk’s support for the Cockroach Janta Party, Mr. Lakrook said he was a national figure and attended it “in his personal capacity”. “There was nothing wrong with engaging on a national issue such as education. I would like to clarify that he has not gone there as a representative of the apex body. From our perspective, we do not see any harm in this. In fact, it can only benefit our movement rather than harm it,” Lakrook said.
Meanwhile, Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Saturday defended climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s participation in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Delhi. They asserted that he attended in his personal capacity and that his engagement with national issues would not undermine Ladakh’s movement.
Alleging that repeated rounds of talks with the Centre yielded little tangible progress, the leaders said they were considering reaching out to political parties and other stakeholders across the country for support. Wangchuk joined the June 6 protest in Delhi, organised by CJP supporters, to back their demands, which included the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests.
The LAB and the KDA held their core group meeting here on Friday evening. LAB Co-Chairman Chering Dorjay, KDA Co-Chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai, MP Ladakh Haneefa Jan and Wangchuk attended the meeting. “Wangchuk had not attended the Delhi event as a representative of the Apex Body. He is a national figure. He is not merely a leader from Ladakh but also an environmentalist whose work is recognised across the country. He has gone there in his personal capacity,” Dorjay told reporters here.
He said Wangchuk had to travel to Switzerland, had a flight this morning and could not attend the press conference. “During the Core group meeting, with Wangchuk present, we discussed this issue in detail. The consensus was that there is nothing wrong with engaging on a national issue such as education. In fact, it is not only about education – there are many other issues as well. …I would like to clarify that he has not gone there as a representative of the Apex Body. He has gone in his personal capacity. From our perspective, we do not see any harm in this. In fact, it can only benefit our movement rather than harm it,” Dorjay said.
Karbalai said it is not correct to suggest, as some have implied, that he is neglecting Ladakh’s issues or leaving them unfinished to focus on national issues. “If there is anyone who has consistently taken Ladakh’s concerns to national and international platforms, it is Wangchuk,” he said. Referring to the slow progress of talks with the Centre over the past five years regarding key demands, including statehood and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, he said both the KDA and the Apex Body may be compelled to consider engaging with other stakeholders across India regarding Ladakh’s concerns.
“If the Government of India and the MHA continue to remain unresponsive — holding meetings, conducting talks, but producing no concrete outcomes — then we will have to explore other avenues,” he said, adding that the dialogue process increasingly resembled a cycle of negotiations followed by agitation, with little progress on the ground.
He said when such a situation exceeds all reasonable limits, they may have no choice but to reach out to other stakeholders across the country, including opposition parties and other organisations, to discuss Ladakh’s issues.
“If they are willing to support the cause of Ladakh, we see no problem with that. If Wangchuk has accepted an invitation from a particular organisation or platform and is explaining Ladakh’s concerns there, and if that platform helps bring attention to Ladakh’s cause, then we see no harm in it,” Karbalai said.
