Leaders from Ladakh have clarified that their twin demands for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule remain non-negotiable and they will not backtrack. This is a day after activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk suggested at a press conference in Delhi that both the Centre and the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) should adopt a “give and take” approach in negotiations.

On March 14, Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur Central Jail after the Centre dropped the National Security Act (NSA) charges against him, ending nearly six months of incarceration. In a press release, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that its decision to revoke charges against him under the NSA was part of an effort to foster an “environment of peace, stability, and mutual trust” for “meaningful dialogue”. 

For nearly five years, the ABL and KDA have spearheaded the movement for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections. Over the past two years, Wangchuk has emerged as the national face of the struggle, amplifying the cause through climate fasts and padyatras. 

In his first comments following his release, Wangchuk urged flexibility from leaders at both the Centre and in Ladakh. “I’m........

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