A protest led by the youth in Ladakh turned violent in Leh, Ladakh, on Wednesday. This comes just two days after leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), an independent organisation based in Ladakh, which stands central among the protests, warned of people losing patience.
Now, the demand of the people is not for statehood alone, but in a broader sense, they are focused on preserving the unique character of the region, which is mostly tribal.
On Monday, LAB announced that the leaders wouldn't end their hunger strike until their demands are fulfilled by the state. The hunger strike began on September 10, was led by LAB, and was supposed to last for 35 days. The ongoing strike by Sonam Wangchuk was under it; however, he had to end his strike amid disgust. He called the violence instigated by the youth "nonsensical."
The LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been in dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) over their demands, for which they have been holding protests over the last four years. The Buddhist and Muslim bodies, which represent the two major communities of Ladakh, are participating together in this movement.
As for an immediate call, the youth wing had already stated that they would stage a major protest on Wednesday and had demanded a meeting with the Central Government very soon. The MHA, which oversees the governance in the Union Territory, scheduled the next level of talks on October 6. The last one was held in May, while the recent round has been ongoing since 2024. LAB called the date-setting in October "just a dictation."
In the protests on Wednesday, the call was for a shutdown, which turned violent as the BJP office in Leh was torched.
LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey, while addressing a press conference, said that they have told the government that they could not end their hunger strike until an agreement was reached. He stated, "Our protest is peaceful, but people are getting impatient. The situation may get out of our hands."
Earlier on Monday, Sonam Wangchuk had said that the BJP-led government had promised to include Ladakh under the sixth schedule of the Constitution, stressing that it should be fulfilled before the upcoming Hill Council polls. He said, "If they fulfill their promise, Ladakh will vote for them. They will benefit the most, and vice versa."
He also highlighted that people were growing impatient, saying, "The people tell us we are getting nothing through peaceful protest. We do not want anything to happen that may be embarrassing to India."
What are the major demands of the Ladakhi protestors?The protestors in Ladakh have been raising demands ever since its division from Jammu and Kashmir as a Union territory, but the agitation turned significant in 2024. J&K had its first assembly elections and has an elected government too, but Ladakh is still centrally governed. It also lost some of its protections, such as rules for land ownership by non-locals, which went away, and the abrogation of Article 370.
The major demands revolve around a four-point agenda:
Ladakh's statehood: The first and foremost demand by the Ladakhis is the statehood of Ladakh. Its status as a Union territory hasn't fulfilled their demands of self-governance and the additional protections.
Ladakh's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect its tribal status.
A separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh to combat joblessness in the region. Unemployment has been a major issue in the Union Territory, along with the slow recruitment process of the Government.
Two parliamentary seats instead of one, to have more say at the Centre.