Opposition Parties to Send Delegation to Ladakh After Deadly Violence; Date Yet to be Decided

Opposition parties including Congress, CPI(M), AAP, Samajwadi Party, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha are deliberating on sending a delegation to Ladakh following the recent violence in the region. The talks among these parties are ongoing, but no final date for the visit has been fixed yet.

The unrest in Ladakh erupted during protests on September 24 led by the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance demanding statehood and tribal status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The violence resulted in four deaths and many injuries, followed by a strong government crackdown including arrests under the National Security Act. Notably, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, involved in a hunger strike supporting the protests, was detained under this act.

Opposition leaders have condemned the deaths and the government's handling of the situation. They have supported calls for a judicial inquiry into the firing incidents and urged the government to open meaningful dialogue with protesters. The CPI(M) criticized the central government for ignoring Ladakh’s demands for constitutional safeguards despite years of peaceful agitation and hunger strikes. They also demanded compensation for victims and an end to repressive measures.

The proposed delegation aims to visit Ladakh around the end of October to assess the situation firsthand and represent the concerns of local residents. Discussions are still informal, but the opposition sees this as an important step after recent unrest and arrests.

This move comes after past occasions where opposition delegations visited conflict-affected areas like Manipur to highlight local issues and influence government responses.

The situation in Ladakh remains tense, with political voices calling for justice, dialogue, and restoration of peace in the strategic border region.