Ladakh Shutdown Called Amid Disagreement Over Autonomy and Safeguards

Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) called Saturday a shutdown in Ladakh on June 23, accusing the Centre of backtracking on agreements reached during talks on May 22 and warning that their “patience should not be tested”.

The two main political groups in the Union territory claimed draft minutes of the meeting with a Union home ministry (MHA) sub-committee have not included agreement on a proposed legislative setup with powers over the bureaucracy and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under a new provision akin to Article 371.

Sonam Wangchuk, LAB member and environmentalist, was part of the talks held in Delhi and described later by both groups as “historic”.

LAB and KDA warned that if the “two essentials” are not reflected in the final minutes, they would return to their original demand of “full statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh”.

This has raised fears of another phase of agitation during Ladakh’s peak tourist season.

According to LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook, a draft of the meeting’s minutes had been shared with him, but after he pointed out what he described as “omissions” and sought corrections, the revised minutes were not released or sent back to him.

“It is a grave concern for us. These are crucial issues for Ladakh and we expect govt to rectify the omissions and faithfully incorporate the decisions in official records. Govt should adhere to understandings reached at the meeting. It cannot be a case of taking two steps forward and two steps backward. Such an approach raises questions about govt’s intentions,” Lakrook said Saturday.

The LAB co-chairman made it clear that a planned visit by the Dalai Lama would not stop protests.

“Govt should not assume public mobilisation will not take place because His Holiness the Dalai Lama is expected to visit Ladakh. There are many democratic ways to protest,” Lakrook said.

The Tibetan spiritual leader is slated to arrive on June 28 for an extended stay, with govt planning grand celebrations in Ladakh to mark his 91st birthday on July 6.

In a “final appeal”, KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbali warned the Centre “not to test the patience” of Ladakh’s people further.

“. We have given sufficient time to govt. The patience and tolerance of Ladakhis have limits. If those limits are crossed, this movement can take many forms,” Karbali said.

Several rounds of talks have been held with the Centre on Ladakh since 2023.

The process stopped after four people were killed and over 80 injured on Sept 24, 2025, in alleged police firing on protesters in Leh demanding statehood.

LAB’s Wangchuk was accused of inciting the protesters, arrested, charged under NSA and kept in Jodhpur jail.

The Centre revoked his NSA detention in March this year.