Leh : On September 24, 2025, peace in mountainous Ladakh was shattered after police firing killed four people. A lot of water has flown down the Pangong Tso since then.
From Sonam Wangchuk’s detention under the NSA to his fast at Jantar Mantar being broken by former BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda and MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh; from Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announcing that Home Minister Amit Shah agreeing to give special status to Ladakh under Article 371 was “very big”, to MHA negotiators assuring Ladakhi representatives that a Union Territory with its own legislature was doable—there have been several significant developments over the past year.
But despite these assurances, it appears the Centre’s Ladakh problem remains unresolved, a year later.
On September 9, the Ladakh subcommittee comprising representatives from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) met the MHA team to negotiate on the demand for statehood.
A major assurance was given to provide special protection to Ladakh under Article 371(K). The same verbal assurance had also been given in the earlier meeting. Ladakhi representatives, however, say they want to see a written draft of what is being promised orally.
Sonam Wangchuk, who is part of the negotiations, had earlier threatened to renew the agitation if the September 9 meeting failed to provide a written roadmap for Ladakh. A ‘padyatra’ on the issue had also been announced, but convenor Sajjad Kargili has now said the yatra is on hold in light of the recent developments.
Both the LAB and KDA say the verbal assurances from the MHA hold promise. An elected body to govern the Union Territory, where the head of the UT could be designated as chief minister, would be a promising first step for people demanding full statehood.
But the sticking point remains the powers that such a chief minister would have.
Ladakhi representatives want the Puducherry model, under which the police would report to the elected government. The MHA proposal, however, is closer to the Delhi model, where law and order remains under the Lieutenant Governor.
This has emerged as a key sticking point in the negotiations.
The announcement of district council elections before the formation of the proposed elected body for the UT is also making Ladakhis apprehensive, according to members of the Apex Body.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena approved last week the notification for the creation of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in all seven districts of the Union Territory. So far, LAHDCs operated only in Kargil and Leh.
While the LG has framed the decision as a major boost to grassroots democracy, representatives participating in the talks with the Centre are asking why elections to the LAHDCs cannot be held simultaneously with, or after, elections to the proposed UT Assembly.
Kargil representatives have also raised apprehensions about the manner in which the new districts have been carved out.
“Sankoo, Shargole and Kargil are the remotest and yet have maximum population density. They deserve two separate districts, but at least carve out one,” a representative involved in the negotiations argued.
Over the past year, the Centre and Ladakhi negotiators have walked a long distance to reach a possible meeting point. A final push from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the home minister could put to rest some of the doubts that people in India’s northernmost frontier continue to have.
But the next one month will be crucial.
If the government can demonstrate action on the ground on Article 371(K), including moving towards bringing the constitutional amendment in the winter session, Ladakh could erupt in celebrations.
Until then, however, the “verbal assurance” and the “missing draft” continue to keep India’s newest Union Territory on edge.
