Following the eruption of violence in Ladakh, editorials of several leading newspapers on September 26 have advised the government to act with restraint and reach out to the people to find democratic solutions and a settlement.
The Economic Times stated in its editorial, ‘Engage with Ladakh, Not Finger-Pointing’: “When Ladakh was carved out as a union territory or UT in 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, there was jubilation, but also unease. Tribal groups—STs make up 97% of the population—understandably feared that they would be overridden by ‘outsiders’, ‘investors’ and political interests. Those early apprehensions have only hardened into today’s palpable street unrest.”
The editorial further informs us, “At the center of the agitation are four key demands. One, the demand for Ladakh’s statehood, along with extension of the Sixth Schedule that safeguards tribal land, culture and autonomy in states like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Its absence in Ladakh is increasingly glaring. They are also seeking separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, in addition to employment reservations for locals.”
This editorial recommends, “If Delhi believes Ladakh’s unrest can be smothered with police orders, communication blackouts and finger-pointing, it should think again. What the region demands is not rhetoric but recognition: that within the post-370 dispensation, Ladakh’s aspirations deserve as much weight as its strategic geography. Ignoring this reality risks letting yet another sensitive frontier slip into prolonged, combustible instability.”
The Hindu stated in an editorial titled Mistrust in Ladakh: “The protestors and the Centre have appealed to the youth of Ladakh to remain calm. The Ladakh protests have been championed by two major civil society coalitions—the Leh Apex Body (LAB), representing Buddhist-majority Leh, and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), representing Muslim-majority Kargil. While these groups do have many disagreements, they are united in a four-point agenda for constitutional safeguards and greater political autonomy for the region.” This editorial recommends, “The legitimate aspirations of the people can be addressed without compromising India’s security requirements.”
The Hindustan Times stated in an editorial titled ‘All’s not well in Ladakh’: “There are two takeaways from the protests. One, the statehood and the Sixth Schedule demands in Leh have wide support…Two, mass mobilizations and protests are safety valves in a democracy.”
The Indian Express stated in an editorial titled ‘The Protest Test’: “Ladakh is one of India’s most important frontiers, bordering Pakistan and China. In war and peace, its people have stood steadfastly by the country, often as the first line of defense and intelligence gathering. In the current moment, when passions are high, the protesters’ demands are all within the constitutional framework.”
In addition, The Indian Express carried an article titled ‘Listen to Ladakh’ (alongside its editorial) written by eminent expert Amitabh Mattoo, former Member of the National Security Advisory Board. He has stated that empowering Ladakh’s people will strengthen India on this frontier. He writes, “The way forward is clear. The Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance must be engaged as legitimate representatives, and dialogue must be broadened to include youth, women and voices from remote hamlets. Hill Councils should be strengthened immediately, and a path for legislative empowerment sketched out, whether through a reformed Union Territory model, gradual devolution or innovative provisions of the Sixth Schedule adapted for Ladakh’s unique status.”
Mattoo also has something important to say about development priorities. He writes, “Mega solar projects may power India’s green transition but they cannot displace fragile ecosystems or pastoral livelihoods. Pashmina, Ladakh’s pride, must be preserved alongside renewable energy ambitions.”
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*The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now
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