Leh, Oct. 22 -- The Civil Society Forum of Ladakh has expressed concern over the stalled dialogue with the Centre on constitutional safeguards for the region, alleging that "delaying tactics" and confrontational politics had undermined the consensus reached during previous rounds of talks.

The Forum urged the government to strengthen grassroots democracy through elected Panchayats and Hill Councils.

In a resolution adopted in Leh on Thursday, the forum urged the Centre and the Union Territory administration to immediately hold Panchayat and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections across all eight districts, describing elected district-level institutions as an immediate safeguard for Ladakh's land, culture, natural r...