Frustrated by a prolonged silence from the central government, the two primary civil society organisations representing Ladakh are gearing up to launch a fresh agitation, potentially in the national capital. This move comes over three months after protests in Leh turned violent, resulting in the tragic deaths of four individuals in police firing.
Dialogue in Deep Freeze, Trust Deficit Widens
The Apex Body, Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Association (KDA) have jointly expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). They allege that the Centre has displayed "apathy" by not scheduling any follow-up meetings to discuss their core demands since their last engagement in October 2025.
On November 14, 2025, representatives from both groups submitted a comprehensive proposal to the MHA's joint secretary for Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. This document formally detailed their requests for full statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
"We have heard nothing from the Union Home Ministry since," stated ABL co-chairman Chhering Dorje Lakruk. He warned that if the government's inaction continues, organising another peaceful protest, possibly in Delhi, would become their only recourse.
Echoing this sentiment, sources within the KDA revealed that the MHA had initially promised to revert within two to three days after studying their November proposal. "It is more than one-and-a-half months since then, but we have still not heard from the MHA. No meetings are being scheduled. This is the same attitude that led to the September violence," they stated, indicating a preference for holding the joint agitation in Delhi.
Core Demands: Statehood and Constitutional Safeguards
The ABL-KDA proposal argues that Ladakh has been left "politically disenfranchised" since August 2019, when it was carved out as a Union Territory without a legislature. The groups contend that statehood is essential to restore democratic governance and political representation, crucial for a region of immense strategic importance.
Their draft legislation outlines a 30-member Assembly with significant reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs), who constitute over 90% of Ladakh's population. Alongside statehood, they urgently seek Sixth Schedule status, which would establish Autonomous District Councils for Leh and Kargil. These councils would wield legislative and financial powers over local resources, land, culture, and development, acting as a vital shield for the region's unique identity.
As a critical confidence-building measure to restart dialogue, the groups have also demanded a general amnesty and the unconditional release of prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose detention completed 100 days recently. KDA leader Sajjad Kargili highlighted this, urging the MHA to resume talks immediately to avoid "deepening the trust deficit."
New Divisions and Allegations of Administrative Meddling
The simmering discontent is further complicated by the recent emergence of a new group, the Voice of Buddhist Ladakh (VBL), formed on January 1, 2026. The VBL has staked its claim to represent the Buddhist community in talks with the Centre, challenging the ABL's representative character in Buddhist-majority Leh.
Leaders of the ABL and KDA have sharply reacted, alleging that the VBL is a creation of the Ladakh administration intended to sow division and weaken their united front. Chhering Dorje Lakruk accused the administration of giving the VBL a "free hand" to make communally charged social media posts aimed at creating rifts between Buddhists and Muslims.
KDA co-chairman Asghar Karbalai echoed these concerns in a public address, alleging a pattern of delay and divide-and-rule tactics by the government. "When we threaten agitation, MHA requests us not to go to the people and says it is ready for talks. But when we give our proposals, they sit on it," he stated.
With no communication from the Centre and perceived attempts to fragment their unity, the ABL and KDA now see a protest in Delhi as an inevitable step to draw national attention to Ladakh's political future, which they believe hangs in the balance.
