NEW DELHI, 24 May — Activist Sonam Wangchuk described recent talks between Ladakh representatives and the Centre as a “positive step” but warned that trust in the region remains fragile, citing unresolved cases from last year’s protests, the continued seizure of personal devices and punitive actions against institutions linked to the movement. Wangchuk spoke to PTI on Saturday after a fresh round of discussions with a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sub-committee on constitutional safeguards and governance for Ladakh.
Wangchuk said Thursday’s meeting altered his outlook but did not erase his caution. He recalled being detained earlier this year and said the session had “made some difference… Otherwise, I was very disappointed.” He noted that the release order had spoken of creating “an environment of trust” and moving toward “meaningful and constructive dialogue,” but said those promises had not matched the situation on the ground.
He warned that social divisions had widened in recent weeks, with tensions between Leh and Kargil communities and between religious groups. “Last week was very negative. There was conflict everywhere. I thought Ladakh would become another Manipur; it was heading in that direction,” he said. The latest engagement with the Centre, he added, offered relief because “both sides have taken a step,” though he said real optimism would depend on concrete government actions in the coming weeks.
Wangchuk highlighted several unresolved issues undermining confidence. His mobile phone, he said, was confiscated during protests about eight months ago and has not been returned despite his release more than two months ago. “Without it, I cannot book an Ola, an Uber, or even a plane ticket. Digitally, I have become useless in Digital India,” he said, adding he has refused to replace the phone on principle: “The government has left me half free and kept the other half in jail,” referring also to seizure of emails and digital records.
He raised ongoing problems with the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), saying the institute’s land lease was cancelled despite documentation and its FCRA licence has not been restored, even after account scrutiny that, he claimed, found no wrongdoing. These developments made him question whether his release was prompted by sympathy or by the Supreme Court’s intervention.
Wangchuk said the test of the talks will be immediate: “Now, I would like to see in the next one or two weeks whether they correct these things or not.” He identified the biggest trust deficit as the fallout from the 24 September protests, when many were injured, some died and numerous protesters were charged. “Will those cases be withdrawn? Only then will there be trust,” he said.
The comments followed meetings between the Leh Apex Body, the Kargil Democratic Alliance and the MHA sub-committee on constitutional safeguards, democratic powers and governance arrangements. The two civil society groups have jointly demanded statehood for Ladakh, protections for land and jobs, and stronger democratic powers since the region became a union territory without a legislature in 2019. In a joint statement after Thursday’s meeting, both groups said they had reached an “in-principle understanding” with the government on restoring democracy in Ladakh and granting constitutional safeguards similar to those under Article 371 for Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram. (PTI)
Original Source: https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2026/05/25/feared-ladakh-would-become-another-manipur-but-recent-mha-talks-a-positive-shift-wangchuk/
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Publish Date: 2026-05-25 01:25:00
