Former BJP MP for Ladakh accuses Wangchuk and others of deceiving people in UT

Former Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang, said on Saturday that the September 9 meeting between Ladakh civil society leaders, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Union Territory Administration was “fruitful”, contradicting the view conveyed by some members of the delegation, including prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk.

Mr Chhewang – among the first Ladakh leaders to launch a movement in 2020 seeking constitutional guarantees for the region after Article 370 was lifted for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, of which Ladakh was a part – attended the sub-committee meeting on September 9 at the invitation of the MHA.

After the meeting, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said a sui generis model is being proposed for Ladakh with a unique elected body under Article 371 of the Constitution, which will have legislative, executive and financial powers.

However, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the two civil society groups that conducted the talks, described the meeting as “disappointing” and a waste of time and money as it barely moved forward from the decisions taken on 22 May.

False ideas

Mr Chhewang said the meeting discussed “elections to the existing district-level councils, which should be held before the formation of the UT-level body”.

Mr Chhewang expressed disappointment at the manner in which the results of the meeting were subsequently presented in the public domain by the LAB and KDA, saying that several positive developments and consensus points discussed during the meeting were not presented to the people, while statements indicating that the talks had not progressed were circulated in the national and social media.

He said that although he had previously stayed away from LAB by choice, he later rejoined after being persuaded by Mr. Wangchuk and others. Over time, people with different ideologies and political agendas also joined the movement, Mr. Chhewang said, maintaining that his own stance on Ladakh’s demands remained consistent from the beginning.

Practical fuses

He recalled that issues including recruitment and constitutional guarantees were extensively discussed. According to the former BJP MP, after much deliberation, a consensus emerged on several aspects, including the demand for guarantees under Article 371, which was discussed during the May 22 meeting. He said that while demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Plan remained part of the broader political discourse, the discussions eventually shifted towards finding practical constitutional and administrative guarantees for Ladakh.

One of the options discussed was that senior councils should be established in all districts, followed by direct elections, Mr Chhewang said. He also highlighted the tribal character of Ladakh and said that due to the presence of Scheduled Tribes, there should be adequate representation and provision for nomination in the proposed system.

Mr Chhewang said Mr Wangchuk and the KDA section continued to insist that the focus should remain on the UT-level body and that elections should not be held immediately. He further argued that the delay in progress was not on the part of the MHA but on differences within the LAB and KDA regarding the order and implementation of the proposed institutions.

“No need for a new upset”

He also criticized Mr. Wangchuk’s reported call for renewed agitation, including an ultimatum to meet Ladakh’s demands. The former BJP MP questioned the need for further agitation when he said significant progress had been made through dialogue with the MHA.

Mr. Chhewang said that Ladakh had already witnessed the serious consequences of the September 24, 2025 incident where four people were killed during an agitation and warned against any development that could lead to a repeat of such a situation.

If Mr. Wangchuk and the LAB still want to continue the agitation, he said, they should consider holding it in Kargil, which he says is more interested in meeting certain demands. It was Leh that witnessed struggles over the years, he said, while Kargil benefited from the developments that followed the movement.

Changing positions

Reacting to Mr. Chhewang’s statement, Sajjad Kargili, co-organizer of KDA, said that the former MP was not part of the LAB. Both civil society groups have expressed their objection to his inclusion in discussions with the MHA and the UT administration, he said.

“It is unfortunate that someone who was once among the prominent faces of the Ladakh people’s movement has over time taken positions that appear to be different from the collective approach of the movement… He had also earlier resigned from the LAB. His subsequent political position, including his support for the BJP in Ladakh, further contributed to the difference in approach,” Kargili said.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 23:35 IST