Protests in Ladakh: A Region Betrayed
LEH — In India’s high-altitude Ladakh region, a wave of protests is sweeping through the sub-zero temperatures. After the government granted their long-standing demand for a separate region from Indian-administered Kashmir in 2019, the people of Ladakh feel betrayed and abandoned by unfulfilled promises. Srinagar-based freelance journalist Auqib Javeed dives deep into the changes that have rocked the region.
Ladakh, India’s northern-most region, is a harsh desert home to 300,000 individuals from Muslim and Buddhist communities. The Leh region is predominantly Buddhist, while the Kargil region is populated by Shia Muslims.
For years, the Buddhist community pushed for a separate region, while those in Kargil sought integration with the Muslim-majority region of India-administered Kashmir.
In a landmark move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked Article 370 of the constitution in 2019, stripping the former state of Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and autonomy. The state was divided into Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, both now federally administered territories.
A year later, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) were formed by the districts of Kargil and Leh to address the concerns of the people. Civil society groups organized massive rallies against the federal government.
Recent demonstrations have seen shops shuttered and thousands taking to the streets in Kargil demanding statehood, while protesters in Leh are gearing up for a border march.
“We demanded a separate territory with a legislature, but we were only granted a federally governed territory,” laments Chhering Dorjey Lakrook, a respected Buddhist leader from Leh.
For the people of Ladakh, heavily reliant on agriculture, the move also raised fears of cultural and identity loss, as it eased land acquisition for outsiders.
Despite the Indian home ministry confirming no land purchases or investments in Ladakh by Indian companies or outsiders, locals remain wary of a scenario similar to Jammu and Kashmir, where outsiders bought significant land between 2020-22.
Their demands encompass statehood for Ladakh, job opportunities, land and resource protection, and parliamentary representation for Leh and Kargil districts.
They are also advocating for the implementation of the Sixth Schedule, a constitutional provision safeguarding tribal populations and allowing for autonomous organizations to legislate on land, health, and agriculture. Nearly 97% of Ladakh’s population belongs to tribal communities.
“The Sixth Schedule was crafted to protect the rights of indigenous and tribal groups,” explains Chhering Dorjey Lakrook. This provision is crucial to shield them from potential exploitation by industrialists.
Although a committee was established by the federal home ministry to address these demands, locals report no progress being made.
Young people in the region are anxious about the lack of government job opportunities.
Padma Stanzin, leading the Ladakh Students’ Environmental Action Forum (Leaf), highlights the absence of senior government hires since 2019. “We fear outsiders will take over our jobs,” she warns.
Ladakh’s BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal did not respond to BBC’s requests for comments.
Ladakh occupies a key geostrategic position for India, bordered by China and Pakistan, both of which condemned India’s Article 370 revocation.
While Indian-administered Kashmir faced armed uprisings against Delhi since the late 1980s, Ladakh remained untouched by militancy.
During the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan, Ladakh residents supported Indian soldiers by supplying essential goods. Today, they question whether their loyalty is now being exploited.
“The spirit of voluntarism will wane if the government disregards the people’s sentiments,” warns Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer, innovator, and climate activist fasting for 21 days to remind the government of its pledges to protect Ladakh’s environment and tribal culture.
Ladakhis have stood by Indian soldiers, aiding those from the plains struggling with high altitudes. “Any disruption will impact this spirit,” he adds.
Experts caution that China and Pakistan are closely monitoring any signs of instability in the region.
“Beijing and Islamabad might exploit unrest and discontent if it persists,” explains Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre in Washington.
Beijing refused to acknowledge Ladakh’s status as a federally governed territory in 2019, situated along the disputed 3,440km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with poorly demarcated borders.
Tensions escalated between India and China since 2020 after a deadly clash in the Galwan river valley in Ladakh, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers.
Subsequent troop movements and military infrastructure constructions by both nations along the LAC ensued. China laid claim to over 1,000 sq km of India’s territory, a claim India fervently denies.
Reports of Chinese soldiers entering Ladakh and restricting herding activities have further fueled local grievances.
In January, clashes erupted between local herders and Chinese PLA soldiers over grazing rights near the LAC.
While India cannot afford an unstable Ladakh, reversing the 2019 changes is not an option, asserts Mr. Kugelman.
Delhi maintains that the Article 370 repeal and subsequent actions were final, aiming to quell disputes and instability within the affected regions.
“Granting statehood to Ladakh would undermine that stance and cast doubts on the 2019 moves, a narrative Delhi aims to avoid,” he clarifies.
Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, suggests India’s cautious approach stems from the volatile situation post-Galwan clash.
“The unstable LAC and recent events likely prompt the government to tread carefully,” he adds.
Ladakh residents are hopeful that their united front, bridging Muslim and Buddhist communities, will compel authorities to address their grievances.
“Our unity will force the government to listen and act on our demands,” asserts Jigmat Paljor, a student-activist in Leh. “They can’t ignore us forever.” — BBC
