Wangchuk threatens Ladakh agitation from September 19 over autonomy demands

Climate activist and social campaigner Sonam Wangchuk has warned of fresh agitation in Ladakh from September 19 to 24 if the government fails to provide assurances within a week on the region's key demands.

The warning came hours after Wangchuk expressed disappointment over the outcome of talks between Ladakh's key groups and a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sub-committee in New Delhi on Thursday.

The September 9 meeting focused on long-standing demands for greater political autonomy and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. Representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have said they were disappointed that the Centre did not present the detailed draft they had expected on a proposed elected Union Territory-level body.

Wangchuk warns of renewed protests

Wangchuk said the proposed agitation could take place between September 19 and 24 if the government does not provide concrete assurances on the issues raised by Ladakh's representatives.

The Leh Apex Body has been observing September as a "Martyrs' Month" to remember those killed, injured and jailed during last year's unrest. A planned padyatra from Kargil to Leh, which was scheduled to begin on September 10, had earlier been postponed because of the MHA meeting.

"We have collectively decided to postpone the padyatra for the time being," Wangchuk had said.

He had also warned that the march could be revived if the September 9 talks failed to produce a satisfactory outcome. The march could be organised around five days before September 24 if the situation warranted it.

"We will once again appeal to people from across India to come forward in support of Ladakh, in support of the environment, and in support of the people of Ladakh who remain steadfast on the country's borders," Wangchuk said.

Before the meeting, Wangchuk had said the Apex Body expected the government to bring a detailed draft on the proposed Ladakh Assembly, including its powers and rights. "If there is progress on these issues, we will consider the talks successful," he said.

Wangchuk also said the circumstances surrounding September 24 were "not normal" and indicated that the LAB could disclose what it knows about the violence and incidents of arson if necessary.

"If Ladakh is not treated in the same manner... and a stepmotherly treatment is meted out to Ladakh and the people living along the borders, then we will be compelled to launch a very large-scale agitation after September 9," the activist had said.

Ladakh groups seek stronger constitutional safeguards

Wangchuk had earlier criticised the September 9 meeting, saying little had changed since previous discussions. He shared an old clip from comedian Jaspal Bhatti's show on X to take a dig at the government, suggesting that the talks had largely resulted in fixing the date of another meeting.

The MHA had convened the meeting as part of continuing discussions over Ladakh's demands for statehood, constitutional safeguards and greater powers for local institutions.

The LAB and KDA have been jointly pursuing these demands since Ladakh was granted Union Territory status in August 2019. Their demands include legislation for Ladakh at the Union Territory level, constitutional safeguards under Article 371, withdrawal of cases filed after the September 24 violence, compensation for victims and publication of the inquiry commission report.

During the latest discussions, the MHA indicated that it intended to establish a directly elected Union Territory-level body with legislative powers over land, culture and language, forests, the environment and natural resources, among other subjects reserved for the UT under Article 240.

The Centre has also proposed a new constitutional provision, Article 371(K), to provide additional protections for Ladakh. However, key questions over governance powers and administrative responsibilities remain under discussion.

Wangchuk's past detention and recent protests

Wangchuk spent six months in Jodhpur jail after being detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) in September last year following violence in Ladakh.

He was detained on September 26, 2025, two days after protests over greater autonomy for Ladakh turned violent, leaving four people dead and dozens injured. The Union government had accused Wangchuk, a 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award winner and prominent figure in the Ladakh statehood movement, of provoking the clashes.

The Centre revoked his detention in March 2026, saying it remained committed to engaging with stakeholders and addressing the aspirations and concerns of people in Ladakh.

Following his release, Wangchuk backed students protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and undertook a 26-day indefinite hunger strike beginning June 28.

The current dispute comes against the backdrop of several rounds of discussions between Ladakh representatives and the Centre since 2021, with the LAB and KDA continuing to push for greater political representation and constitutional protection for the region.