NEW DELHI (Oct 11) — Opposition parties are weighing the idea of sending a joint delegation to Ladakh, following last month’s violent protests demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which left four people dead and several injured.
According to party sources, informal consultations have taken place among the Congress, CPI(M), Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, with a tentative plan to visit the Union Territory by the end of October.
The proposed visit aims to assess the ground situation, meet with protest leaders, and express solidarity with the residents of Ladakh, who have been agitating for full statehood and constitutional safeguards for over a year.
Opposition leaders have accused the central government of ignoring the long-pending demands of Ladakh’s people, particularly regarding land, employment, and preservation of tribal rights.
The Ladakh protests, led by social activist Sonam Wangchuk and several local groups, turned violent last month after clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Leh. The unrest prompted a crackdown and the subsequent detention of Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), sparking nationwide criticism.
While no official decision has been made yet, sources said the opposition parties are working to finalize the composition and timing of the delegation in coordination with local civil society groups.