New Delhi (ABC Live): When Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory in August 2019, the region finally stepped out of Kashmir’s shadow. For decades, Ladakhis had complained they were sidelined in the old Jammu & Kashmir state. Therefore, the new status was greeted with celebration.

However, the celebration was short-lived. Unlike Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh had no legislature. Decisions would now flow from Delhi through a Lieutenant Governor, with only the Hill Councils left for limited local governance. As a result, for many Ladakhis, the promise of self-rule felt like a mirage. Out of this disappointment grew the Statehood for Ladakh Movement.

What the People Ask For

At its heart, the movement is simple:

• Statehood — an elected assembly, a democratic voice.

• Sixth Schedule safeguards — constitutional protection for land, jobs, and culture.

In addition, around these core demands gather other concerns: jobs for Ladakhi youth, more power to the Hill Councils, and, above all, protection of a fragile ecosystem already crumbling under climate change and rapid tourism.

Two powerful coalitions emerged to channel this sentiment: the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). Despite their different histories and communities — Buddhists in Leh, Shia Muslims in Kargil — both converged on one shared cause.

The Government’s Dialogue Track

Delhi responded with dialogue. Consequently, a High-Powered Committee (HPC) was set up to negotiate directly with Ladakhi leaders. Over the months, it produced results:

• Scheduled Tribe reservation rose from 45% to 84%.

• One-third reservation for women in Hill Councils.

• Recognition of Bhoti and Purgi as official languages.

• Recruitment process launched for 1,800 jobs.

Indeed, these were real achievements. Yet, for the movement’s leaders, they were not enough. The core demand — statehood and Sixth Schedule status — was still in limbo.

The Hunger Strike That Shook Ladakh

In September 2025, the movement took a dramatic turn. Sonam Wangchuk, the environmentalist who had long warned about Ladakh’s fragile ecology, began a hunger strike on 10 September. His demand was clear: statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion.

At first, his protest was peaceful. Nevertheless, as the days passed, his speeches grew sharper. He invoked the Arab Spring and Gen Z protests in Nepal, drawing comparisons that unsettled Delhi. Social media amplified his words across Ladakh and beyond, especially among restless youth.

On 24 September, the tension exploded. A crowd left the hunger strike venue and attacked both a political party office and the Chief Executive Councillor’s office in Leh. Fires were lit, vehicles torched, and security personnel attacked. More than 30 police and CRPF men were injured. By afternoon, the police opened fire in self-defence. Casualties followed. By 4 PM, the streets were quiet again, but the silence was heavy.

Amidst the chaos, Wangchuk ended his fast and left in an ambulance, accused by some of abandoning the scene without calming his supporters.

The Government’s Version

A day later, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an official Press Note on Ladakh (PIB, 25 Sept 2025).

It emphasised the government’s achievements — the rise in reservations, official recognition of languages, women’s empowerment, and jobs for locals. It accused “politically motivated individuals” of sabotaging dialogue.

The note held Wangchuk’s provocative rhetoric responsible for the violence, stressing that police had no option but to fire in self-defence. Even so, it reaffirmed Delhi’s commitment to Ladakh’s aspirations, promising that the HPC process would continue and urging citizens not to spread old or misleading videos.

The Gap Between Hope and Delivery

For Ladakhis, the gap is obvious. The government points to what has been delivered. The movement points to what has not.

Therefore, the anger is clear: progress on the margins, stalemate on the core.

Why Ladakh Is So Sensitive for India

The Statehood for Ladakh Movement cannot be treated like any other agitation. Ladakh is a frontier like no other.

• Strategic frontier: It touches both China and Pakistan. The Galwan clashes of 2020 showed how quickly tension can turn to conflict. Every governance decision here has defence implications.

• Ecological frontier: Ladakh’s glaciers feed the Indus basin, lifeline to millions. Mismanagement of its ecology is not just local, it is regional.

• Cultural frontier: Buddhists in Leh and Shia Muslims in Kargil have lived side by side for centuries. Their demand for safeguards is also a plea to preserve this harmony.

Thus, for India, mishandling Ladakh is not an option. It would weaken its borders, strain its ecology, and fracture its social fabric.

The Way Forward

The violence of September 2025 shows that frustration cannot be ignored. At the same time, provocative rhetoric cannot replace dialogue.

A path forward must include:

• Immediate trust-building: a joint communiqué, relief for the injured, and an independent review of the violence.

• Structured dialogue: HPC working groups on constitutional status, land and jobs, and ecology.

• Interim safeguards: temporary land and job protections until a final settlement is reached.

• Long-term options:

  • Full statehood with special security carve-outs.

  • UT with the legislature, like Delhi or Puducherry.

  • A Sixth Schedule or bespoke “Ladakh Schedule.”

Each option carries risks and rewards. Nevertheless, ignoring the issue carries the greatest risk of all.

Conclusion

The Statehood for Ladakh Movement is a reminder that democracy’s hardest tests come at the margins. For Ladakhis, the movement is about survival, dignity, and identity. For India, it is about proving that democracy can flourish even at its most sensitive frontier.

Ladakh is not Telangana, nor Jharkhand. Its stakes are higher. A wrong step here can shake India’s security, disrupt its ecology, and fracture its culture. Therefore, the solution must be a careful balance: autonomy with safeguards, identity with inclusion, democracy with security.

For Ladakh, the struggle continues. For India, the world is watching how it answers.

Sources

1. Press Release on Ladakh – Ministry of Home Affairs, PIB (25 Sept 2025)

2. Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 – Government of India

3. Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India – Legislative Department

4. Galwan Valley Clash Coverage – The Hindu, June 2020

5. Indus Water Treaty and Himalayan Glaciers – UN Water Report

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