Government may grant legislative powers to Ladakh local bodies in talks on May 22

New Delhi: The next round of discussions between the home ministry and Ladakh representatives on safeguards in the region will resume on May 22, as Ladakh LG VK Saxena announced in a post on Sunday. The discussions are likely to explore how to strengthen the legislative powers of elected local bodies and provide further safeguards to the people of Ladakh on issues related to land, culture and employment.Negotiations resume after nearly three months, after activists withdrew Golden WangchukHis detention by the NSA is seen by experts as a conciliatory move by the Center to win the trust of Ladakh groups. In releasing Wangchuck, the Ministry of Home Affairs pledged to “create an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh to facilitate constructive and meaningful dialogue with stakeholders”.In early February, the ministry heard the demands of Ladakh outfits Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance. Ladakh leaders were told to come back with revised proposals. Ministry sources said they expected a reply at a meeting on May 22.