#WATCH | Delhi: On Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) subcommittee talks regarding legislative powers for Ladakh, former Ladakh MP Thupstan Chhewang says, "...Subsequently, Sonam Wangchuk and Asgar Karbalai of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) raised the issue of forming a District Council. He and the group had opposed this in the previous meeting, arguing that a District Council should not be formed first; instead, a UT-level body should be established initially, and the decision regarding any subsequent third-tier body should be left to that UT-level body. We responded by pointing out that establishing a legislative body at the UT level could take a long time... during the meeting on the 22nd, the Apex Body and the KDA had agreed for the first time that they would not insist on the Sixth Schedule or a legislature, but would instead accept a fully empowered UT-level body... However, during the discussion, the Home Ministry indicated that they would finalise the remaining aspects by October, deliberate on the draft, and expedite the process as much as possible..." He adds, "...While the meeting did reach a consensus, the focus remained on the earlier stance... It seemed to us like an attempt to mislead the public and suppress the truth... Despite this, the authorities remained adamant, with the Home Ministry flatly refusing to intervene or authorise the district elections... The way the Apex Body and the KDA have opposed this is troubling; on one hand, they acknowledge the lack of a democratic system in Ladakh following its transition to a UT, noting the prevalence of bureaucratic rule, yet they oppose the government's efforts to empower people and bring democracy to the grassroots, panchayat, municipal, and district levels, simply out of stubbornness regarding the UT-level structure..."

#WATCH | Delhi: On Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) subcommittee talks regarding legislative powers for Ladakh, former Ladakh MP Thupstan Chhewang says, "...I am amazed that the Home Ministry managed to address the core issue so quickly; the agenda was to discuss and decide on the legislative body to be formed at the Union Territory level. This was the very first topic of discussion... In response, the proposal presented to us by the government outlined how to empower this body and which powers should be vested in it. Regarding the name, it was decided that this would be discussed once the draft was prepared. As for the legislative powers to be granted to this UT-level body, the initial discussion focused on its formation and the selection process. Three options were presented: first, direct election; second, leveraging the newly created seven districts, where District Development Councils (DDCs) are being implemented to empower people and take democracy to the grassroots, by nominating members from these elected bodies; and third, a Panchayat-based model..." He adds, "...Additionally, we proposed that the non-tribal population there should also be given representation in the UT-level body; this was agreed upon as well. Four specific issues were highlighted: first, full authority over land would be vested in that body. Second was culture; since the agitation was largely driven by concerns regarding our identity and the demand for Sixth Schedule provisions, which encompass culture and language, they agreed to grant full authority in this regard. Third was the environment; they clearly stated that full authority over environmental matters would also be transferred to the body..."

#WATCH | New Delhi | Dy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, along with a high-level delegation of 11 senior Indian monks led by the 43rd Sakya Trizin, Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, depart for Russia’s Kalmykia Republic with the sacred Relics of the Buddha, for an exposition in the capital city of Elista from 11-18 October, 2025.