Ladakh's Sonam Wangchuk Urges Centre for Dialogue on Key Issues
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Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk appeals to the Indian Centre for dialogue on Ladakh's issues, noting a month since his release from NSA detention and a two-month gap since the last talks, warning of divisive elements exploiting the vacuum.
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Sonam Wangchuk, an environmentalist and member of the Leh Apex Body, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) following protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status. His release and subsequent calls for dialogue highlight ongoing tensions and negotiations between the region's representatives and the Indian Centre.
Environmentalist and Leh Apex Body (LAB) member Sonam Wangchuk urged the Centre on Monday to initiate dialogue on Ladakh’s key issues. This appeal comes almost a month after his release from jail, with Wangchuk stating that the Union territory is “hanging between trust and mistrust”.
“Today marks a month since the revocation of my National Security Act (NSA) detention. The revocation gave us hope that the Centre was willing to correct past mistakes as it spoke of “building mutual trust” for a constructive and meaningful dialogue,” Wangchuk said in a statement from Leh.
Wangchuk was arrested and charged under NSA over violence in Leh in September last year during protests for statehood and Sixth Schedule status, and was kept in Jodhpur jail.
On Monday, Wangchuk pointed out that over two months had passed since the last dialogue with the Centre on February 4, and no date had been set for the next round of talks.
“Shady entities are using this gap to sow seeds of Leh-Kargil (Buddhist-Muslim) divide. As people in this sensitive border region grow disheartened, I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to take timely measures in national interest to resolve the issues at the earliest,” Wangchuk said.
Wangchuk had called for resumption of dialogue in his first public speech in Leh on March 22 after his release, advocating “a win-win approach” of flexibility by both Ladakhi leaders and the Centre.
In Kargil on April 5, Wangchuk declared that Ladakhi leaders would approach the talks with an “open heart and mind”, continuing to raise their demands forcefully but with a flexible approach.
The Union home ministry (MHA) had revoked Wangchuk’s NSA detention last month and affirmed the Centre’s commitment to “constructive engagement and dialogue” to resolve the region’s issues.
Four people were killed and more than 80 injured in alleged police firing on protesters in Leh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards on September 24, 2025. Wangchuk was accused of inciting the protesters through speeches.
The first round of talks between an MHA panel and Ladakhi representatives was held in Delhi on October 22 last year after the Centre ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged firing. Another round of talks took place on February 4 but remained “inconclusive”. This has led to calls for fresh talks.
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The Centre will likely set a date for the next round of talks within the next few weeks to address Wangchuk's appeal and prevent further division.
Wahrscheinlich · Innerhalb von Wochen
Attempts to sow division between Leh and Kargil may increase in the short term due to the dialogue vacuum.
Wahrscheinlich · Innerhalb von Tagen
Ladakhi leaders will continue to advocate for their demands with a flexible approach, seeking a 'win-win' solution.
Sehr wahrscheinlich · Laufend
Offene Fragen
- What specific 'shady entities' are attempting to sow division between Leh and Kargil?
- What are the specific demands of the Ladakhi leaders regarding statehood and the Sixth Schedule?
- What is the Centre's proposed timeline or approach for resuming dialogue?
- What is the current status of the judicial inquiry into the alleged police firing?
