Amit Shah Meets Ladakh Leaders Ahead of Crucial May 22 Talks

A two-day visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Leh centers on an international Buddha relics exposition, with environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk among the leaders he met. The interaction focused on Buddha and spirituality as Shah urged faith in Lord Buddha and suggested the events would set a broader tone for dialogue.\n\nShah told attendees that Ladakh-related issues would be discussed on May 22 in a sub-committee meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and emphasized that his current trip is primarily spiritual, intended to pay obeisance to Buddha relics. Gyalson, a former LAHDC chief, described the tone as one of openness and said the leaders were asked to approach the May 22 session with an open mind and a willingness to find a middle path.\n\nDuring the meeting, the leaders—including LAB co-chairman Tsering Dorje Lakrook and Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa—raised several requests, such as upgrading the talks to a high-powered committee. Lakrook noted Shah’s response: he would not chair a high-powered committee now, citing his ongoing spiritual journey; if talks move forward, a high-powered meeting could follow.\n\nThe Leh encounter comes amid memories of past protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards, which had led to casualties and injuries in 2025. Wangchuk had been accused of inciting protesters, a point reflecting the continuing sensitivities around Ladakh’s political status. The visit also aligns with the Buddha relics exposition, widely described as a historic reunion and a reaffirmation of Ladakh as a living land of Dhamma, highlighting India’s Buddhist heritage during a period of regional dialogue.

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