Despite their efforts, including a hunger strike and a march from Leh to Delhi, the central government has yet to engage with their concerns.
A GROUP OF LADAKHIS, led by Magsaysay award winner and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, walked hundreds of kilometers from Leh to the national capital, Delhi, last month to present their demands to central government leaders. Instead of meeting with any central leaders, they were restrained from staging a peaceful protest and were made to confine themselves in the Ladakh Bhavan, where they are now on a hunger strike.
The central government’s refusal to meet them and hear their demands is perplexing and shocking. It’s not just about providing assurances on their demands; it’s the outright denial of their request for a meeting to present those demands.
With the current government’s policy of one-sided dialogue through social media platforms and Mann Ki Baat, there is no official explanation for the refusal of any senior minister to meet the delegation.
The residents of Leh-Ladakh have been demanding constitutional safeguards to protect tribal areas from encroachments and exploitation.
Among their demands are full statehood for Ladakh, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution—which provides for regional self-governance institutions—reservation of jobs for locals, and one parliamentary seat each for the Leh and Kargil regions.
Their biggest concerns are changes in demographics and the protection of tribal lands. They fear that people from other parts of the country will set up industries, establish trade, and buy land, which could lead to demographic changes and job losses for locals.
The region, particularly Leh and Kargil, has become hugely popular with tourists, leading to the problem of over-tourism. This surge in visitors has also resulted in a boom in the tourist industry, including hotels, guesthouses, homestays, and transport services.
Residents have long demanded autonomous status. Until 2019, Ladakh was part of the Jammu and Kashmir state, which was declared a separate Union Territory while the Jammu and Kashmir regions were downgraded to Union Territory status.
In the case of Ladakh, there was no provision for an elected assembly, unlike Jammu and Kashmir. It had an Autonomous Hill Area Council, but all its decisions must be ratified by the Centre since it is now a Union Territory.
Ninety-five percent of Ladakh’s population is tribal, with distinct ethnicities, cultures, and customs. While Buddhism is the dominant religion in most parts of Ladakh, there are also Muslim-populated areas like Kargil and Drass.
The sensitivity of the region can’t be overstated, especially given that it borders China and Pakistan, even though its total population is only around three lakh. Ladakhis are known to be true nationalists and are seen as our first frontier of defence.
Sonam Wangchuk and his followers deserve kudos for keeping the agitation peaceful. Rather than inconveniencing the common man, as is often done by other protests, including those of farmers and doctors, they have inflicted pain on themselves by sitting on hunger strikes and organizing marches.
A few months ago, they organized a long relay hunger strike in Leh, living under tents in minus 12-degree temperatures. This followed an aborted peaceful march in the border areas.
When the government and large parts of the media did not pay any attention to their protests and demands, they decided to march from Leh to Delhi, braving blisters on their feet and harsh weather conditions.
Recently, speaking to a media person, Wangchuk said: “We are not in a hurry, and we are not restless. We are inflicting pain on ourselves, not on anyone else.
As long as we do not curtail the freedom of others, we should be left alone. When the time comes for a critical period in our fasting, I am sure the nation will speak up.”
It is high time the government reaches out to them and hears them out. The government’s adamant attitude is doing no good for the Ladakhis or for the nation. The country has paid a very high price for similarly neglecting certain areas in the northeast. History must not be allowed to repeat itself in Ladakh. 
Vipin Pubby
The author, a freelance journalist, is a former Resident Editor of Indian Express, Chandigarh, and reported on the political developments in Jammu and Kashmir, North-Eastern India, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab in his long, illustrious career.
Disclaimer : PunjabTodayNews.com and other platforms of the Punjab Today group strive to include views and opinions from across the entire spectrum, but by no means do we agree with everything we publish. Our efforts and editorial choices consistently underscore our authors’ right to the freedom of speech. However, it should be clear to all readers that individual authors are responsible for the information, ideas or opinions in their articles, and very often, these do not reflect the views of PunjabTodayNews.com or other platforms of the group. Punjab Today does not assume any responsibility or liability for the views of authors whose work appears here.
Punjab Today believes in serious, engaging, narrative journalism at a time when mainstream media houses seem to have given up on long-form writing and news television has blurred or altogether erased the lines between news and slapstick entertainment. We at Punjab Today believe that readers such as yourself appreciate cerebral journalism, and would like you to hold us against the best international industry standards. Brickbats are welcome even more than bouquets, though an occasional pat on the back is always encouraging. Good journalism can be a lifeline in these uncertain times worldwide. You can support us in myriad ways. To begin with, by spreading word about us and forwarding this reportage. Stay engaged.
— Team PT