Ladakh Leaders Threaten Agitation After Talks With Home Ministry Fail to Produce Draft

Leaders from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, have threatened to launch a massive agitation and a padyatra from September 19 to 24 if the central government does not provide a concrete proposal within one week. The warning follows a meeting with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that failed to produce a draft proposal for a proposed elected Union Territory level body.

Wangchuk stated that while the talks were cordial, no substantive progress was made on the core demands. The delegation sought assurances on several non negotiable points, including the supremacy of elected UT level leaders over the bureaucracy, control over law and order, and a guarantee that no irreversible decisions regarding land allotment or administration would be made before a democratic structure is established. The leaders expressed disappointment that the MHA did not present a comprehensive draft on constitutional safeguards under Article 371K, despite an in principle understanding reached on May 22.

Additional demands included the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters following violent clashes in Leh on September 24, 2025, and the provision of compensation. Sajjad Kargili of the KDA criticized the government for asking questions about the governance structure rather than providing a draft, while Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra described the meeting in positive terms, noting discussions on a governance model based on Article 371.

Reports on the meeting differ in their framing of the outcome. A center leaning source emphasized the lack of movement on specific non negotiable demands and the perceived insincerity of the government. A center right leaning source focused more on the threat of fresh agitation and the specific legal demands regarding the withdrawal of protest cases.