LEH/KARGIL: Political groups in Ladakh have called off a proposed long march and large-scale protests planned to mark the first anniversary of the killings last year, after the Central Government agreed to continue talks on constitutional safeguards and a special model of governance for the Union Territory.
Talks, Article 371 and a sui generis model
The Centre will hold the next round of discussions with Ladakh leadership in Kargil, focusing on amendments to provide constitutional protections under Article 371 and on creating a distinctive, elected governance model described as "sui generis". Officials have indicated Parliament will amend Article 371 to offer what they termed adequate constitutional safeguards to Ladakh.
Following the most recent round of talks, Ashish Kundra, Chief Secretary of Ladakh, told NDTV that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had initiated related procedures. The talks are intended to work out the contours of both the special safeguards and the proposed elected local body.
Protests scaled down; symbolic events planned
In response to the ongoing negotiations, leaders of various political formations in Ladakh announced they were withdrawing the planned long march from Kargil to Leh and other mass protests that had been scheduled ahead of the anniversary. Instead, organisers have scaled down activities to a symbolic 20 km march in Leh and a rally in Kargil on 23 September, with a martyrs' day event to follow on 24 September.
"Due to prevailing weather conditions with cold nights, we're making it into a symbolic 20 Km march on 23rd Sept. followed by martyrs day event on 24th. Inconvenience regretted, look forward to joining you and marching together,"
The post was made on the social media handle of climate activist and Leh Apex Body member Sonam Wangchuk, who cited both weather and a recent thaw in political relations as reasons for the change in plan.
Leaders cite weather and process as reasons
Sajjad Kargili, Co-Chairman of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), confirmed that the planned march from Kargil to Leh would not proceed as earlier intended. He said the KDA would instead hold a rally in Kargil on 23 September, and that the decision reflected both the ongoing dialogue with the Centre and practical concerns.
"The process of talks with the Centre is underway. The Central Government is holding the next round of talks in the first week of October in Kargil. So instead of going ahead with a long march, we have decided to hold a rally on September 23," Sajjad Kargili said, according to reporting.
Local and political implications
The decision to scale down demonstrations shifts the focus from mass public mobilisation to negotiation and institutional change. If Article 371-style provisions and a sui generis elected body are enacted, they would mark a significant alteration in Ladakh's constitutional and administrative arrangements. The move to explore such safeguards responds to longstanding demands from various quarters in the region for legal protections and distinct local governance.
Observers say further rounds of talks will be closely watched by political groups, civil society actors and residents in both Leh and Kargil, who have been divided on methods but largely united in seeking greater certainty on Ladakh's future governance model.
What to expect next
The immediate calendar now includes:
- 23 September: 20 km symbolic march in Leh; rally in Kargil.
- 24 September: Martyrs' day commemorative events.
- Early October: Next round of talks between the Central Government and Ladakh leadership, reportedly to be held in Kargil.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Symbolic march | 23 September | Leh |
| Rally | 23 September | Kargil |
| Martyrs' day event | 24 September | Leh/Kargil |
No formal text of any proposed amendment has been released publicly. Government sources have said procedural steps are under way in the Home Ministry and that Parliament will need to enact any alteration to Article 371. Details on the precise scope of safeguards and the powers, composition and legal status of the proposed sui generis elected body are expected to be discussed in the forthcoming sessions.
For residents and local stakeholders, the scaled-down public events mean a reduced security footprint and fewer disruptions to travel and services in the next week, while attention shifts to negotiations in October that could determine Ladakh's governance architecture for years to come.
