Talks For Statehood Failed, Say Ladakh Leaders After Meeting Amit Shah

In the last four years, Ladakh has shut down on multiple occasions amid fears of disempowerment of locals and overreach of bureaucracy.

The Centre's talks with Ladakh's civil society leaders failed after a six-member delegation from the Union Territory met with Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi today. Former BJP MP Thupstan Chhewang, who is also the chief of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), has been leading the talks.

"We met Amit Shah at his residence but he categorically said that neither statehood nor guarantee within the Sixth Schedule can be granted and that's why talks failed," Senior Vice President of Ladakh Buddhist Association Chering Dorjay Lakruk told NDTV.

According to Mr Lakruk, they came to Delhi on the Home Ministry's invite for the third round of talks. "We met Home Ministry officials initially and then went to meet Amit Shah at his residence," he said.