NEW DELHI, May 24, 2026 : Prominent Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday described the recent talks between representatives of Ladakh and the Centre as a “positive step”, while cautioning that genuine trust-building in the region remains incomplete due to unresolved issues linked to protests, legal cases and institutional actions.
Speaking after the latest round of discussions with a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sub-committee, Wangchuk said the recent engagement had changed his outlook to some extent after a period of disappointment and growing concern over tensions in the region.
“This meeting has made some difference… Otherwise, I was very disappointed,” Wangchuk said while referring to his earlier detention this year.
He said the government’s release order had spoken about creating “an environment of trust” and moving towards “meaningful and constructive dialogue”, but claimed that the situation on the ground had not reflected those assurances.
“Nothing was happening on the ground. People were getting divided — Leh and Kargil, Buddhists fighting Buddhists, Muslims fighting Muslims. We felt trust-building was not happening, and meaningful dialogue seemed unlikely,” he said.
Expressing concern over rising tensions in the region, Wangchuk remarked:
“Last week was very negative. There was conflict everywhere. I thought Ladakh would become another Manipur; it was heading in that direction.”
However, he said the latest discussions with the Centre had brought some relief and optimism.
“Both sides have taken a step,” he said, adding that the future atmosphere would depend on whether the government follows up the talks with concrete actions in the coming weeks.
Wangchuk also highlighted several unresolved issues which, according to him, continue to undermine public confidence.
He alleged that his mobile phone, confiscated during protests around eight months ago, has still not been returned despite his release from detention.
“My mobile phone was taken when I was jailed. It has been more than two months since I was released, and I still do not have it back,” he said.
Describing the impact of the seizure, Wangchuk said:
“Without it, I cannot book an Ola, an Uber, or even a plane ticket. Digitally, I have become useless in Digital India.”
He said he deliberately chose not to replace the device or recreate digital access as a matter of principle.
“The government has left me half free and kept the other half in jail,” he added.
The activist also raised concerns over issues related to the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), stating that the institution’s land lease had been cancelled despite possessing necessary documents.
“Our FCRA has still not been restored,” he said, while claiming that scrutiny of the institution’s accounts had not revealed any wrongdoing.
Wangchuk further questioned whether his release was prompted by goodwill or judicial intervention.
“The question arises — was I released out of sympathy or because of the Supreme Court’s intervention?” he asked.
Despite acknowledging progress in the latest dialogue, Wangchuk said he would assess the Centre’s intentions based on actions taken in the coming weeks.
“Now, I would like to see in the next one or two weeks whether they correct these things or not,” he said.
He identified the biggest trust deficit as the handling of cases related to the September 24 protests in Ladakh.
“So many people were injured, some died… many were charged. Will those cases be withdrawn? Only then will there be trust,” he said.
Wangchuk expressed hope that the change in tone during the recent talks would also lead to decisions on pending legal cases, compensation issues and institutional concerns.
His remarks came after representatives of the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance held discussions with the MHA sub-committee regarding constitutional safeguards, democratic powers and governance arrangements for Ladakh.
The two civil society groups have jointly been demanding:
- Statehood for Ladakh
- Constitutional safeguards for land and jobs
- Greater democratic powers
since Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019.
Following Thursday’s meeting, both groups stated that an “in-principle understanding” had been reached with the Government of India regarding restoration of democratic mechanisms in Ladakh and constitutional safeguards similar to provisions available under Article 371 in states such as Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram.
