‘Deprived of democracy’: Wangchuk says cancelled home ministry meeting has broken Ladakh’s trust

Sonam Wangchuk accuses the Centre of denying Ladakh democracy after a home ministry meeting was cancelled.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday accused the Centre of keeping Ladakh “deprived of democracy” and treating it as a “controversial area” by keeping it a Union Territory without a legislature.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk says Ladakh’s hopes have been repeatedly dashed after a meeting with the Union home ministry was cancelled without an explanation. (PTI)

The statements came after a Union home ministry meeting scheduled for Thursday with Ladakh leaders in the national capital did not take place. Wangchuk said the cancellation, with no reason given, had prompted the region’s leadership to consider taking its case to the United Nations".

‘Meeting is not happening’: Wangchuk

“We were told with complete determination that we will meet in Delhi on the 22nd of October,” Wangchuk told the media in New Delhi. “We made our plans and bought our tickets. Today I am here, and the meeting is not happening. The country should know how the hopes of Ladakh have been ruined again and again.”

The government has not publicly explained why the October 22 meeting was called off, and its version was not available at the time of publication.

The talks between the government and leaders of the UT have gone through three rounds this year.