Wangchuk renews push for talks, says Ladakh 'hangs between trust and mistrust'

SRINAGAR: Environmentalist and Leh Apex Body (LAB) member Sonam Wangchuk urged the Centre Monday to initiate dialogue on Ladakh’s key issues, issuing the appeal almost a month after his release from jail and saying the Union territory is “hanging between trust and mistrust”.

“Today marks a month since the revocation of my National Security Act (NSA) detention. The revocation gave us hope that the Centre was willing to correct past mistakes as it spoke of “building mutual trust” for a constructive and meaningful dialogue,” Wangchuk said in a statement from Leh.

Wangchuk was arrested and charged under NSA over violence in Leh in Sept last year during protests for statehood and Sixth Schedule status and kept in Jodhpur jail.

On Monday, Wangchuk pointed out that over two months had passed since the last dialogue with the Centre on Feb 4, and no date had been set for the next round of talks.

“Shady entities are using this gap to sow seeds of Leh-Kargil (Buddhist-Muslim) divide. As people in this sensitive border region grow disheartened, I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to take timely measures in national interest to resolve the issues at the earliest,” Wangchuk said.

Wangchuk had called for resumption of dialogue in his first public speech in Leh on March 22 after his release, advocating “a win-win approach” of flexibility by both Ladakhi leaders and the Centre. In Kargil on April 5, Wangchuk declared that Ladakhi leaders would approach the talks with an “open heart and mind”, continuing to raise their demands forcefully but with a flexible approach.

The Union home ministry (MHA) had revoked Wangchuk’s NSA detention last month and affirmed the Centre’s commitment to “constructive engagement and dialogue” to resolve the region’s issues.

Four people were killed and more than 80 injured in alleged police firing on protesters in Leh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards on Sept 24, 2025. Wangchuk was accused of inciting the protesters through speeches.

The first round of talks between an MHA panel and Ladakhi representatives was held in Delhi on Oct 22 last year after the Centre ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged firing. Another round of talks took place on Feb 4 but remained “inconclusive”. This has led to calls for fresh talks.
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