After splitting from Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019, Ladakh was formerly ecstatic. However, it is currently the centre of intense protests calling for statehood and constitutional protections. Even the streets of Leh, which were once a hive of celebration, are now the scene of large-scale protests that resound with calls for statehood similar to those heard in the north-eastern states.
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Rise of Protest in Ladakh
Leh and Kargil, two historically religiously divided regions, have united in an unprecedented show of solidarity for these protests. Many thousands of people have braved below-freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall to voice their demands amid chants of “Bahaal karo, bahaal karo” (restore, restore) and “Leh Chalo.”
Leading the demonstrations are the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). Notable people have supported them, including climate activist and Magsaysay Award winner Sonam Wangchuk.
Even Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, the BJP’s sole member of parliament for Ladakh and well-known for his passionate speech on Article 370 in 2019, has urged the Centre to protect the Union Territory’s land, jobs, and cultural identity.
Although Ladakh has long demanded statehood and the constitutional protection of its identity, the current protests are among the biggest to be seen since 2019. The timing is especially noteworthy because it occurs a few months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election and just before elections are expected to be held in Jammu and Kashmir following a ten-year break.
Long-standing Demands
The long-standing demand for statehood dates back to 2002–2003, when the Leh district began to feel abandoned by Jammu and Kashmir’s successive governments. The excitement that followed the region’s 2019 split soon gave way to annoyance when locals saw how much less negotiating power Ladakh had with the Centre in the absence of a legislature.
Jammu and Kashmir, on the other hand, had more autonomy because it was still able to elect its own legislators and form its own government. Lack of such privileges in Ladakh raised concerns about growing central control over industrial and development projects, circumventing local approval.
The Core Demands
Four main demands are at the centre of the protests: statehood, tribal status, locals’ job reservation, and Leh and Kargil districts’ parliamentary representation. Like other tribal areas in the nation, Ladakh requests protection under the sixth schedule of the Constitution due to its distinct demographics and cultural heritage.
The sixth schedule protects tribal areas’ rights and cultural identity by granting them legislative, financial, and judicial autonomy. In contrast to previous years, Ladakh is still not included in the sixth schedule, even though the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes supported its inclusion in 2019.
Crossroads
A 17-member committee led by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai was established by the Union Home Ministry to handle Ladakh’s complaints after it realised how serious the situation was. However, no real progress has been made in the discussions between the committee and the representative organisations of Ladakh, such as LAB and KDA.
Protests continue because Ladakhis are increasingly restless and deeply want to protect their constitutional rights and distinctive identity. Ladakh is at a crossroads, its future hanging in the balance as it negotiates the complexities of governance and autonomy within the Indian Union, as the streets resound with calls for justice.
