Ladakh to protest for safeguards on March 16, despite Sonam Wangchuk release

A protest planned for Monday (March 16, 2026) demanding constitutional safeguards for Ladakh will not be called off even after the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from detention, civil society groups in the Union Territory, who are also engaged in dialogue with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, said on Saturday (March 14, 2026).

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the two groups representing the Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh, had announced the protest on March 10 to draw the Centre’s attention towards their demands – which include Statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (tribal status), a Member of Parliament each for Leh and Kargil, and filling of existing government vacancies. They said the meetings of the high-powered committee (HPC) had not led to any outcome yet.

Also read: Sonam Wangchuk | Ladakh’s engineer of change

Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, co-convenor of the LAB and the president of the influential Ladakh Buddhist Association, told The Hindu that the release of Mr. Wangchuk was one of several issues being pursued and the protest will go on as planned. “Sonam Wangchuk’s release is one of the several issues we have been pursuing. Our demands for constitutional safeguards and development for the region are yet to be fulfilled. The protest will go on as planned; there are two other activists who remain in jail (since September 2025),” he said.

Sajjad Kargili of the KDA said around 1,000 people are expected to converge in Kargil on Monday to protest. “The revocation of the NSA [National security Act] is a welcome move. However, our struggle for our legitimate rights continues. We also demand the immediate release of Deldan Namgial (former Congress MLA) and Smanla Dorjey and appeal that all charges against those detained on September 24 be dropped unconditionally,” Mr. Kargili said.

Also read: Ladakh leaders press for Statehood; talks with Home Ministry remain inconclusive

The HPC led by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, last met on February 4, only the second time since the September 24, 2025, violence in Leh city in which four people, including a Kargil war-veteran, were killed in police firing and the talks remained inconclusive. MHA officials have only offered safeguards available under Article 371 of the Constitution and insisted on strengthening the hill councils. Article 371 deals with “Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions”, and exists in 12 States.

On March 13, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra and Police chief Mukesh Singh announced a major recruitment drive from April 15 to fill 365 police constable vacancies and 35 vacancies at Sub-Inspectors rank in Ladakh police.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government for the prolonged detention of Mr. Wangchuk.

Claiming that the Narendra Modi government now stood exposed, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the time spent in jail by the climate activist is a loss to the country. “The Modi government stands exposed once again. A scientist and climate activist who had dedicated his life to the nation was arrested without any evidence. The months he spent in jail were not only a personal loss for him but also a loss to the country. This sheer dictatorship must be called out and stopped immediately,” he said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said BJP first offered Statehood to Ladakh and then backtracked. “He [Mr. Wangchuk] should not have been jailed at all. The BJP should have supported his protest, but they betrayed him,’ Mr. Yadav said.

Welcoming the move to revoke Mr, Wangchuk’s detention, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “He should never have been arrested”.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Modi government should apologise to the people of Ladakh for the “completely bogus” arrest of Mr. Wangchuk. “The INC had condemned the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk on completely bogus grounds six months back. Now the Modi government has done a total U-turn. It stands fully exposed. It should apologise to not only Mr. Wangchuk and his family but to the people of Ladakh as well. It should also immediately release all those who were detained for staging peaceful and democratic protests,” Mr. Ramesh posted on X.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot questioned the “convenient use” of laws such as the NSA. “The same individual, who just a few months ago was branded a threat to national security and thrown behind bars, is now suddenly being released—meaning no evidence was found against him. In such a case, who will account for the 170 days of his detention? …Will the definition of national security now be dictated by the BJP’s political gains and losses?”

Ladakh, earlier part of Jammu and Kashmir, became a Union Territory in 2019 following the reading down of Article 370 of the Constitution and the civil society groups have been demanding constitutional safeguards since 2020.