Calls for autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
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Following the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the union territory of Ladakh. Following the bifurcation, calls in Jammu and Kashmir began for the restoration of its statehood,[1][2] while Ladakh saw demands for a union territory with legislator in the following months.[3][4]
Background
Historically, Ladakh was the main place for the calls for more autonomy following India's independence in 1947, a movement emerged in Ladakh to "free Ladakh from Kashmir".[5] Leh's Buddhist leadership largely defined its politics through a sense of antagonism towards Kashmir.[6] Early demands for separation and direct rule under the Indian Union or amalgamation with Hindu-majority areas of Jammu were articulated by organizations like the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) and the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) to Maharaja Hari Singh and later to Jawaharlal Nehru. [6][7]Nehru, declined these demands to avoid weakening India's stance on Kashmir in the UN Security Council.[8][9][7]
The political system in Kashmir was perceived by many Ladakhi's as fundamentally communalist, influencing their strategies.[5][10] Ladakhi leaders, both Muslim and Buddhist, felt discriminated against by the state government.[5] The Gajendragadkar Commission of Inquiry (1968) officially recognized that J&K was composed of three separate homogeneous regions: Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.[5][11]
In 1979, Ladakh was split into two districts: Leh (predominantly Buddhist) and Kargil (predominantly Muslim), a move seen by some as an attempt to divide the population along religious lines and weaken the Buddhist movement.[6][7][12][13][14]This led to distinct political alignments, with Leh's Buddhist-based identity politics often diverging from Kargil's Muslim-based politics.[5][6]
The late 1980s saw a renewed and at times violent agitation for Union Territory (UT) status, launched by the Ladakh People’s Movement for Union Territory Status (LPMUTS), which accused the Kashmir government of treating Ladakhis as "third-rate citizens". [5][8][13]This period also saw a "social boycott" of Kashmiri Muslims, and later all Muslims, which severely impacted inter-communal relations. Following the 1989 agitation, a significant portion of Ladakh's population was granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, and Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) were established for Leh (1995) and later Kargil (2003) as an interim measure, though the demand for UT status persisted.[8][6][7]
The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 by the Narendra Modi Government led to the reorganization of J&K into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature).[15][8][12]This move was largely celebrated in Leh, where leaders had long sought separation from Kashmir.[8][9][15][12]However, in Kargil, the decision was met with despondency and protests, with leaders observing it as a "black day" and initially identifying with Kashmir-based sentiments.[9]
The creation of Ladakh as a UT without a legislature meant that political representation was significantly reduced, with only a single Member of Parliament (MP) representing the region.[6]This centralization of power, with administration largely in the hands of bureaucrats and the Lieutenant Governor led to a sense of political disempowerment and alienation.[16][8][9]
Demands from Political Institutions
Many legislative assemblies and AHDCs of the within the former Jammu and Kashmir raised support for more autonomy:
Jammu and Kashmir
The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly passed a non-binding resolution November 2024. Introduced by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference-led government under Omar Abdullah, and supported by several mainstream political parties, including the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party, it sought the restoration of partial autonomy granted under Article 370, which was revoked by the government of India in August 2019.[17][18][19]
The resolution, raised by Incumbent JKNC MLA DCM Mr. Surinder Kumar Choudhary, states:[20]
1. That this Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.
2. This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees, and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.
3. This Assembly emphasizes that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ladakh
The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil passed a resolution Engineer poncho tashi , executive councilor for tourism and Zanskar affairs, moved the resolution and councilor Syed Abas Rizvi seconded the resolution.
The four-point resolution was passed after 21 out of 26 councilors signed it some of the resolution read:[21][22]
"After the reorganisation of the state of J&K, there has been a greater resentment among the general masses of Ladakh regarding the representation of the public in the government. lt has given rise to apprehensions among the public with regards to safeguard of land, job, culture and ecology. There is need of providing full-fledged statehood to Ladakh UT keeping in view of its strategic importance, unique culture, and population,"
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“The protections provided regarding land, culture, jobs, and ecology were no more there. Hence, it has been unanimously agreed across all strata of Ladakh that only the sixth schedule of the Constitution can ensure due protection.”
Demands from non-governmental organizations in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakhi leaders and organizations have consistently sought the restoration of democracy and broader constitutional safeguards. In early 2023, a delegation from Ladakh met Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, to press demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.[23] Subsequent talks have continued, with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) leading the four-point agenda: statehood, Sixth Schedule protections, job reservations, and separate Lok Sabha constituencies.[24] The Union government introduced several regulatory changes such as a 15-year domicile policy, expanded job reservations, multiple official languages, and seats reserved for women in hill councils, but leaders assert that the core demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule status remain unresolved.[25][26] Activists including Sonam Wangchuk and civil society groups have maintained advocacy through protests, hunger strikes, and marches, drawing attention to Ladakh’s strategic importance and the erosion of autonomy since 2019.[27] in August 2025, local bodies in Kargil launched a three-day hunger strike demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.[28]These developments indicate persistent agitation for constitutional recognition, though no concrete timeline or commitment for statehood or legislative restoration has been formalized by the central government as of August 2025.
On 1 September 2025 the eh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had a joint resolution as follows[29]
Joint Resolution adopted by Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance
Dated 1st September 2025.
An important joint meeting of the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance was convened on the first day of September 2025. After due consideration and mutual discussion the meeting unanimously resolved it as follows:
First: Agenda for dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall place statehood and constitutional safeguards under Sixth Schedule as the principal agenda in the forthcoming meeting with the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance.
Second: Autonomy in internal composition. That it is further resolved that the Ministry of Home Affairs shall not dictate, interfere with, or prescribe the composition of the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance’s High-Powered Committee as well as sub-committees.
(Signatures: Apex Body members and Kargil Democratic Alliance.)
Positions of political parties within India
The Omar-led Government initially expressed support for the restoration of statehood and passed another resolution in the J&K Cabinet to that effect.[30][31][32] Some political observers and leaders including the Chief minister expressed hope that it would be restored within a year,[33] but after several months without any indication from the central government, expectations of early restoration began to decline. the chief minister Omar Abdullah then launched a door-to-door signature campaign for statehood, which drew criticism from opposition parties.[34][35] Following the introduction of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2025, commentators noted that the likelihood of statehood being restored in the near future had significantly diminished.[36][37]
Support from other state and national parties were noticed they are the Congress,Janata Dal (United),DMK,Rashtriya Janata Dal,Left,Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party[38]
Judicial and Central Governmental Responses
Judicial
- On 11 December 2023, the Supreme Court of India upheld the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, while also directing the union government to restore the statehood "as soon as possible" for the state of Jammu and Kashmir and hold legislative assembly elections no later than September 2024.[39][40][41]
- The Supreme Court upheld the creation of the Union Territory of Ladakh, referencing Article 3(a) read with explanation of the constitution, which permits the formation of a Union Territory by separating territory from any State.[42]
Central Governmental
- The Union of India assured the Supreme Court that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir.[43][44]
- The Union of India confirmed that the status of the Union Territory of Ladakh will not be affected by the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.[42]
- The Central government has engaged in talks with Ladakhi leaders and formed a high-powered committee to address their concerns.[45][16][46]However, it has shown hesitation in granting full statehood or direct inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, sometimes offering "Sixth Schedule-like" protections instead.[47][12][9] Talks were ongoing between both parties but collapsed after the government arrested prominent leader Sonam Wangchuk under the NSA.[48]