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A week before the scheduled fresh round of talks with the High-Powered Committee (HPC) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, serious differences have surfaced among members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), as veteran leader Thupstan Chhewang has questioned the functioning of the organisation.

Apart from raising concerns about the working of the LAB, Thupstan Chhewang, a two-time Lok Sabha member, has levelled serious allegations against activist Sonam Wangchuk over foreign funding and alleged attempts to influence the ongoing dialogue process. The controversy has intensified internal divisions within the Ladakhi leadership, raising questions about unity and trust within the movement.

Notably, ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s two-day visit to the Union Territory of Ladakh on April 30 and May 1, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena announced that next round of talks will be held on May 22.

A week before the scheduled fresh round of talks with the Union Government, Chhewang made it clear that any dialogue with the Centre would be meaningless unless it resulted in a concrete and satisfactory outcome for the people of Ladakh.

He reiterated that the Ladakhi leadership continues to stand firmly by its core demands, including constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule and full statehood for Ladakh. However, he observed that the BJP-led central government appears unwilling to seriously consider these demands.

According to Chhewang, both sides have remained firm in their respective positions and are unwilling to compromise, resulting in a complete deadlock in the dialogue process. He was of the opinion that under such circumstances the leadership and people of Ladakh are left with only two options: either to intensify and continue the agitation for their demands or to enter negotiations and accept whatever proposals the government may eventually be willing to offer.

How Was I Removed from the LAB Without Consultation?

Chhewang also spoke about the recent acceptance of his resignation as Chairman of the Leh Apex Body by its members. He clarified that he had originally submitted his resignation nearly one and a half years ago.

Describing himself as one of the founding members of the Apex Body, he questioned how he could be removed from the organisation without proper consultation. He said there are five founding members of the Apex Body and that he intends to seek answers from them regarding the manner in which the decision was taken.

Chhewang asserted that he has dedicated his entire life to protecting the interests of the Buddhist community while also working for the welfare, unity, and collective interests of all the people of Ladakh. He said he would continue to work for Ladakh until his last breath and maintained that he still supports the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA).

Referring to differences with Chering Dorjay Lakrook, Chhewang said he had personally tried to contact Lakrook to discuss issues concerning Buddhist interests but alleged that Lakrook showed no interest in holding discussions. He added that he later approached His Eminence Thiksey Thuksey Rinpoche regarding the matter.

Chhewang further emphasised the need to reconsider the composition of delegations participating in meetings concerning Ladakh’s demands. He said there should be equal representation of Buddhists and Muslims and added that any individual or organisation raising concerns about Buddhist interests should also be heard and included in the process.

He also raised concerns about the current composition of representatives attending future meetings with the Centre. Chhewang pointed out that with him no longer part of the Apex Body and Ashraf Barcha involved in a legal battle, serious questions arise about who will now represent the people in the dialogue process.

Speaking about internal disagreements within the Apex Body, Chhewang said that all members, including Lakrook, had collectively agreed that the organisation should restrict itself to the four-point agenda to Ladakh’s constitutional and political demands. However, he maintained that the issue of LPDD privatisation was not part of the Apex Body’s mandate. He claimed that after expressing this opinion through a message, he was subsequently removed from the Apex Body.

Chhewang also alleged that he was frequently ignored during Apex Body meetings and claimed that his views and suggestions were often sidelined.

He further dismissed allegations made by Wangchuk, who had reportedly accused him of receiving funds to organise meetings aimed at creating divisions among Ladakhi leaders and disrupting the ongoing dialogue process concerning Ladakh’s demands.

Calling the allegations deeply hurtful, Chhewang questioned Wangchuk’s moral authority to cast doubts on his integrity. In a sharp response, he alleged that Wangchuk himself had been receiving foreign funds in the name of Ladakh and therefore had no right to question his commitment or honesty.