In September 2025, Ladakh witnessed intense protests following the burning of a BJP office in Leh and clashes that resulted in four deaths and around 30 injuries. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) called for a shutdown as locals voiced long-standing demands for increased autonomy and constitutional safeguards. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently ended a 15-day hunger strike, urged peaceful protests.
The unrest stems from Ladakh’s political status since 2019, when the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked, and Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature. This shift to direct central rule has caused political discontent among the predominantly tribal population, who seek inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This provision grants Autonomous District Councils powers over land, resources, and local governance, currently extended to tribal areas in northeastern India.
Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, has been a vocal advocate for Sixth Schedule protection, emphasizing decentralisation to safeguard Ladakh’s unique cultural and ecological identity. The protests, backed by local bodies like LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance, also demand statehood, separate parliamentary representation, and better government job recruitment.
The ongoing agitation underscores the urgent need to address Ladakh’s political aspirations and protect tribal rights amid concerns over development, resource control, and regional security.
