Kargil Democratic Alliance Joins LAB in Boycott of Talks With Centre

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has endorsed the Leh Apex Body's (LAB) decision to halt negotiations with the Indian government over Ladakh's statehood demands, vowing not to resume talks until climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other detainees are freed and a judicial inquiry is launched into last week's fatal police firing in Leh. The KDA, a prominent advocacy group from Kargil district, aligns with the LAB in intensifying pressure on the Centre amid escalating tensions in the Union Territory. This unified stance follows the LAB's suspension announcement on Monday, highlighting a deepening rift rooted in long-standing grievances over autonomy, cultural preservation, and resource management since Ladakh's bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

Addressing reporters in New Delhi, KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai emphasised the alliance's ongoing coordination with the LAB. "We will not participate in talks with the Centre until Sonam Wangchuk is released, arrests cease, detainees are freed, and a judicial probe is ordered into the firing," Karbalai declared. He vehemently condemned the September 24 security forces' action during a Leh shutdown, which resulted in four deaths, labelling Wangchuk—a renowned environmentalist and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus who has championed sustainable Himalayan development—a "hero of the country". Karbalai warned that attempts to intimidate Ladakhis would only strengthen their resolve, invoking familial solidarity: "If you want to kill my brother and talk to me, it is not possible." The incident has amplified calls for accountability, with over 50 arrests, including Wangchuk under the National Security Act, leading to his transfer to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan.

A core grievance voiced by KDA and LAB leaders is the government's alleged labelling of protesters as "anti-nationals", despite Ladakh's historical contributions to national defence. Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa expressed profound dismay at this "denunciatory term", asserting that locals have sacrificed immensely for India and require no validation. He framed the agitation as a constitutional pursuit to safeguard cultural identity and ecological integrity post-Article 370's abrogation, which stripped the region of special status and integrated protections. Eyewitness accounts cited by Haneefa and Karbalai suggest targeted violence, including a baton assault on an ex-soldier's son before his fatal shooting and a helmeted youth shot in the head, underscoring demands for transparency and "no accountability" in the administration.

Also Read: Mirwaiz Urges Honouring Promises to People of Ladakh

Kargil Hill Council Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon appealed directly to the Union Home Ministry to act against those who authorised the firing and to treat the demands with gravity. Echoing LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang and co-chairman Chering Dorjay's precondition of a "conducive atmosphere", the alliances seek restoration of trust before dialogue. The standoff, brewing since Ladakh's elevation to Union Territory status without legislative assembly or statehood, risks further unrest in this strategically vital border region. As the Centre weighs responses, the unified front from Kargil and Leh signals a pivotal moment for addressing indigenous aspirations in India's northern frontier.

Also Read: Prohibitory Orders Imposed In Leh After Violence During Ladakh Shutdown