Ladakh talks delayed as Centre’s invitation remains awaited.

Uncertainty looms over the next round of talks between agitating groups in Ladakh and representatives of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as the dialogue scheduled for October 22 could not take place because the Ladakhi groups did not receive an invitation.

“The next round of talks was scheduled for October 22, but we did not receive any invitation. I don’t know what is on the mind of the Union Government,” Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-convenor Chering Dorjey told The International Business Times.

“On October 15, it was decided and announced that the next round of dialogue would be held in Delhi on October 22, but we did not receive any invitation,” Dorjey said, adding, “Now the Union Government has to take a decision on restarting the dialogue.”

As reported earlier, following the fifth round of talks between the MHA and representatives of agitating groups in Ladakh on October 15, both sides had agreed to hold the next round of dialogue on October 22.

Reports said that representatives of the MHA and the Ladakhi groups exchanged their respective drafts, following which they agreed to hold another round of talks on October 22.

“There are differences between our draft and the draft shared by the representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Dorjey said, adding that the government’s draft was lengthy and that the Ladakhi groups had sought time to respond.

Wangchuk Accuses Centre of Betrayal

Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk accused the Centre of reneging on its promises to the people of Ladakh as leaders from the region awaited an invitation for the next round of talks, which had been scheduled for October 22.

Addressing media persons in Delhi, Wangchuk accused the BJP-led government of going back on its promises. He said he had arrived in the national capital hoping to participate in the talks but was subsequently informed that no meeting was taking place.

In a video statement recorded upon his arrival in Delhi, Wangchuk said that while China was exerting pressure and refusing to recognise Ladakh, claiming that the region was part of its territory, the Indian government was also failing to treat the people of Ladakh fairly.

“On the other hand, the country we love is not treating us well. They are reneging on every promise to the extent that they are not even giving the people of Ladakh equal status with the rest of the country,” he said.

Wangchuk, who was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for six months, described the October 15 meeting in Leh as a complete failure.

“First of all, I want to tell you that the talks held in Leh on October 15 were a complete failure. They yielded no results because the Central Government reneged on its promises,” he said in the video statement.

The environmentalist added that he had booked his tickets to Delhi after being informed that another round of talks would take place on October 22.

“Then they said they would hold talks again in Delhi on October 22. So I booked my tickets. But now I’m being told that the talks are not taking place,” he said.

The October 15 meeting between MHA officials and Ladakh leaders failed to produce any concrete results, despite an earlier meeting on May 22 at which both sides had reportedly agreed on several key points.

Wangchuk said the Home Ministry itself had proposed another meeting for October 22 and asked Ladakh’s representatives to come to Delhi, assuring them that the meeting would be arranged at the Ministry.