New Delhi, Sept. 21 -- Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will lead a symbolic 20-km march in Leh on September 23 to renew demands for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, including statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The march comes a year after four protesters were killed during violence in Leh amid demonstrations over these demands.
The march was originally planned as part of a longer padyatra, but the programme was scaled down because of the prevailing weather conditions and increasingly cold nights in the region. Wangchuk announced the revised plan on September 17. The 20-km march will be followed by a Martyrs' Day event in Leh on September 24, marking the first anniversary of last year's violence. Four protesters were killed and more than 60 people were injured during the clashes.
Ladakh's leaders have been seeking greater constitutional protection for the region since it became a Union Territory in 2019. Their key demands include statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, which provides special constitutional safeguards for tribal areas. The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance have been leading the broader campaign for these demands. The groups have also sought compensation for the families of those who died during last year's violence and the withdrawal of cases related to the protests.
Wangchuk and other Ladakh leaders had recently threatened to launch fresh agitation after talks with Union home ministry officials in Delhi failed to produce a breakthrough. The proposed week-long protest programme was subsequently called off, with organisers citing weather conditions and the ongoing political discussions. The decision to hold a symbolic march instead comes as representatives from Ladakh continue discussions with the Centre over constitutional safeguards and the region's future governance framework. The September 23 march and the following day's memorial event are expected to renew attention on Ladakh's long-standing demands as the region marks a year since the 2025 protest violence.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.