Ladakh’s struggle for autonomy six years after Article 370
When the BJP revoked Article 370 and made Ladakh a Union Territory, Buddhist-majority Leh celebrated, hopeful that the move would empower locals to govern their region. Among those expressing gratitude was Sonam Wangchuk, the engineer-turned-educator and climate activist.But six years on, the dream has soured. Killings over demands for constitutional safeguards have plunged the region into grief, fear, and anger.
Insecurity grips Ladakh, as the UT is without a legislature, leaving people without proper representation.
To fight for their rights, two regional groups—the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)—came together, uniting Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil. Their demands include protection under the Sixth Schedule, statehood, guarantees for jobs, land, and culture, a separate public service commission, and two parliamentary seats.
The Centre formed a High-Powered Committee (HPC) to address these issues. Talks on job reservations, domicile rights, and an additional Lok Sabha seat for Leh and Kargil after the 2026 census showed some progress. However, the core demand for constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule remains unresolved.
Fear among Ladakhis
For Delhi, resource-rich Ladakh is strategically sensitive, bordering Pakistan and China, making full control a priority. But for Ladakhis, safeguards are essential to prevent outsiders from taking over their jobs, land, and resources.
Tensions over these demands erupted into violent protests on September 24 in the centre of Leh. Hundreds of youth took to the streets, chanting slogans and clashing with police and CRPF.
The situation turned ugly after the BJP office and several vehicles, including one belonging to the police, were set on fire. Protesters also vandalised the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council building. Police and CRPF opened fire, killing four protesters and injuring 90 others.
The protest erupted after two elderly men participating in a hunger strike led by Wangchuk were hospitalised. He had begun the 35-day hunger strike on September 10 against the Centre’s delay in continuing talks on safeguards for Ladakh.
The administration and police blamed Wangchuk for the violence, alleging that his warning that youth anger could explode like the Arab Spring or Gen Z protests in Nepal if ignored, incited unrest. He was arrested under the National Security Act and accused of inciting protests, FCRA violations and links with Pakistan.
His institutions, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) and the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), lost their registration and land leases.
The move deepened fear among Ladakhis that they are losing control over their resources. After the killings, detentions, and restrictions under Section 144, LAB and KDA withdrew from talks scheduled for October 6 until normalcy is restored.
The Ladakh leaders have demanded the release of all detainees and the withdrawal of the ‘anti-national’ tag. What began as joy over UT status has now turned into disenchantment. For many Ladakhis, it feels like a story of broken promises.
Leaders say they might compromise on statehood if the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LADHC) is upgraded to an assembly.
The road ahead
However, Delhi is only ready to offer limited provisions of the Sixth Schedule and has ruled out statehood. MHA officials have highlighted progress on Ladakh’s demands, with 85 per cent reservation in jobs, favourable domicile rules, and two parliamentary seats—one each in Leh and Kargil—after the 2026 census and delimitation.
Yet Ladakhis believe that without constitutional safeguards, their jobs, land and identity are vulnerable.
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The case of HIAL is an example: the lease for its 50 acres of land was provided by LADHC, but was later withdrawn by the UT administration. They also say the promise of jobs has proved hollow, as only minor positions have been filled against the 1,800 promised by the Centre.
The crisis in Ladakh has now become a test for New Delhi: will it grant real safeguards to regain trust, or let a region once proud of its patriotism drift into alienation?
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