New Delhi: Civil society groups in Ladakh have called for a shutdown on June 23 against what they have termed as the Union government’s “backtracking” on May 22 decisions and its delay in releasing the agreed minutes of the meeting, reported The Hindu.“We have called for a complete shutdown on June 23 in Ladakh. All shops and business centres will remain closed. Only transport will be allowed because of the ongoing tourist season,” Leh Apex Body (LAB) chairman Tsering Dorjey Lakrook said on Saturday (June 20), while addressing a joint press conference with members of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).Lakrook accused the Union government of backtracking on the assurances which were given during the meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and six-member committee of the civil society group in New Delhi on May 22.“On May 22, the MHA sub-committee agreed to certain decisions. However, the minutes of the meeting did not reflect it later. It is a cause of concern. The Centre should release the minutes of the meeting and reflect the decisions taken. The Centre should stand by the May 22 decisions. We suspect the intentions of the Centre. It should not be that we take one step forward and two steps backward,” said Lakrook.He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of trying to use the upcoming two-month visit of the Dalai Lama to Ladakh as “an excuse to delay the implementation of the decisions”.“If the Centre thinks that the Dalai Lama’s visit to Ladakh will silence us, it’s mistaken. Under the garb of the two-month tour, we fear decision after decision will be taken to sell Ladakh. We are aware of what is happening behind the doors,” said Lakrook.KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai said that in the May 22 meeting, it was agreed to address the statehood demand by “creating a legislature under an elected Chief Minister”.“It was agreed in principle that the legislature will have executive, legislative and financial powers over matters concerning locals,” said Karbalai, reported The Hindu.Karbalai also claimed that it was agreed to grant special powers to Ladakh under Articles 371A, F and G of the Constitution as guaranteed in these provisions.“We were told the best provisions under these sections will be included under [proposed] Article 371K for Ladakh. It also promised to bring bureaucracy, including the Chief Secretary, under the executive. We were told the minutes of the meeting will be released in days but have not happened till date,” said Karbalai.Ladakh MP Hanifa Jan and activist Sonam Wangchuk also attended the meeting, where it was agreed to go ahead with the shutdown call on June 23.The Wire had earlier reported that on May 22, the civil society groups had said that the understanding was reached during a meeting of a sub-committee of the MHA, comprising representatives from LAB and KDA, along with Ministry officials.However, on May 23, Gelek Phunchok, convenor of the LAB had said that even though the development marked an important breakthrough, the two bodies were still awaiting formal written communication from the MHA.