High-Powered Committee on Ladakh to meet on Feb 4

Srinagar, Jan 16: The Union Home Ministry has convened a meeting of the high-powered committee constituted to deliberate on issues concerning Ladakh on February 04.

The committee, headed by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, will meet at 4:00 PM on February 4 in New Delhi, reads the meeting notice, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The high-powered committee comprises the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, senior officials from the Union Home Ministry, representatives of the Ladakh administration, and leaders from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

The MHA has decided to hold the meeting at a time when leaders of the LAB and KDA-the two conglomerates spearheading the agitation for statehood and constitutional safeguards for the region-have expressed resentment over the delay in convening the panel’s meeting.

Talks between Ladakh’s leadership and the Government of India were last held on October 22, 2025, in New Delhi.

The LAB and KDA had submitted a 29-page draft proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, seeking statehood, Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, and amnesty for people arrested after the September 24 protests.

On September 24, clashes erupted over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards during the 15th day of a hunger strike led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been booked under the NSA and lodged in Jodhpur jail. The protests turned violent, resulting in four deaths and injuries to nearly 100 others, including police and paramilitary personnel.