A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Ladakh, led by Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Leh, met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on April 26. The meeting was held in the presence of BJP National General Secretary and Ladakh Prabhari, Tarun Chugh.

The delegation included Deputy Chairman Tsering Angchuk, Executive Councillors, BJP Ladakh President Phunchok Stanzin, former Member of Parliament Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, BJP-elected Councillors from both LAHDC Leh and Kargil, General Secretary P.T. Kunzang, and former CEC Gyal P. Wangyal.

The delegation began by expressing heartfelt gratitude to the Home Minister for his unwavering support to the Union Territory of Ladakh. They specifically appreciated the Centre’s role in the formation of new districts—Zanskar, Drass, Changthang, Nubra, and Sham—which they hailed as a major step towards inclusive development. The Centre’s consistent financial support, especially under the Vibrant Village Programme and the recent approval of its second phase, was also acknowledged. An invitation was extended to Amit Shah to visit Ladakh and witness the progress firsthand.

During the discussion, the delegation raised several critical issues:
•    Strengthening Recruitment Processes: They stressed the urgent need to streamline and fortify the gazetted recruitment process in Ladakh, seeking direct intervention to protect the rights and interests of local youth.
•    Budget Restoration: The importance of restoring budget allocations for LAHDC and the UT Administration was highlighted to ensure smooth governance and uninterrupted regional development.
•    Tourism Facilitation: Noting the challenges faced by foreign tourists, the leaders appealed for a simplified registration process to make Ladakh more accessible internationally.
•    Ladakh Development Corporation: They proposed the establishment of a dedicated Ladakh Development Corporation to manage regional growth more efficiently, especially in light of existing issues with the J&K Development Finance Corporation.
•    International Representation: The delegation requested updates to Indian embassy websites, particularly in the UK, USA, and Canada, to correctly reflect Ladakh’s status as a Union Territory and avoid international confusion.
•    Connectivity: Concerns about the timely opening of the Leh-Manali road were shared, urging expedited clearance of Baralacha and Shingkula Passes to facilitate essential movement.
•    Permit Reforms: They suggested delegating verification powers for Protected Area Permits (PAP) and Restricted Area Permits (RAP) to the District Magistrate of Leh to speed up processes and boost VPN.

Special attention was given to administrative and developmental issues in the newly formed Zanskar district, Kargil, and adjoining areas, as highlighted by Councillors Stanzin Lakpa, Padma Dorjey, and others. They emphasized the need for immediate administrative intervention.

Further, the delegation raised the need for support following recent heavy thunderstorms and snowfall that caused disruptions across Ladakh.
Councillors from Changthang and Nubra expressed their gratitude for the Vibrant Village Programme and urged rationalization of wildlife regulations in their regions. Additionally, the Councillor from Markha Constituency highlighted the need to rationalize the Hemis National Park boundaries to better serve local communities.

In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the delegation of the Central Government’s full commitment to the development and welfare of Ladakh, promising necessary action to address all concerns raised.