‘Silence Before the Storm’: Ladakh Gears Up for Silent March & Blackout to Press for Statehood and Safeguards

The mountains of Ladakh are preparing for a protest unlike any seen in recent years — not a rallying cry, but a coordinated silence. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have announced a two-hour silent march followed by a three-hour blackout across the Union Territory.

It is not just a demonstration; it is a statement. A region known for its measured temperament is signaling that its patience is wearing thin.

“The silence in Ladakh could turn into a storm,” — LAB and KDA joint statement.

The protest is scheduled for mid-October 2025 (final date under wraps for strategic reasons), with a silent march from 10 AM to 12 Noon and a blackout between 6 PM and 9 PM in Leh and Kargil. This protest, according to its organizers, is intended to amplify the people’s voice through collective silence.

Why Ladakh Is Rising: The Core Demands

The protesters are not rallying against abstract issues. Their demands are clear, constitutional, and deeply political:

• 🏔 Full Statehood: Reversing the Union Territory status granted after the abrogation of Article 370.

• 🛡 Sixth Schedule Protections: Constitutional safeguards to preserve Ladakh’s demography, land, culture, and local decision-making.

• 🏡 Land & Job Protections: Exclusive rights for locals, similar to other tribal and hill regions in India.

• ✊ Accountability for Violence: Justice for the September 24 violence where four civilians were killed and nearly 100 injured.

• 🔓 Release of Activist Sonam Wangchuk: Seen as a symbol of Ladakh’s resistance and environmental activism.

Why these demands matter

For many Ladakhis, this movement is not just about legal status but about survival of identity and self-determination. As one youth leader in Leh put it:

“We supported UT status thinking it would empower us. Instead, we’ve lost control over our land, jobs, and voice.”

The Spark: September 24 Violence

On September 24, 2025, security forces opened fire during protests in Leh, resulting in four civilian deaths and nearly 100 injuries. This event fundamentally shifted the political tone of the region. What began as negotiations over constitutional status transformed into a people’s movement demanding justice and autonomy.

“Our protest has been peaceful for years. But when the state responds with bullets, something breaks,” said a KDA youth organizer.

The violent crackdown galvanized previously divided political and religious factions in Ladakh, uniting them under a single banner.

Who Is Leading the Movement?

The protest is being spearheaded by two umbrella organizations:

• Leh Apex Body (LAB) — representing political, religious, and community groups in Leh.

• Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) — a coalition of political and religious leaders from Kargil.

Key voices:

• Tsering Dorjey — Senior LAB leader, warning the Centre against ignoring Ladakh’s anger.

• Sonam Wangchuk — Climate activist and public face of Ladakh’s rights movement (currently under detention).

• Various Buddhist, Muslim, and tribal leaders who have come together across ideological lines — a rare show of unity in the region’s history.

The movement’s non-partisan, cross-community nature gives it unusual legitimacy and weight.

Silent March: A Tactical Innovation

Unlike conventional protests with slogans and speeches, the silent march is designed to convey power through restraint. Organizers have emphasized:

• No slogans

• No flags except the Ladakh symbol

• Marchers will wear black armbands

• Monasteries, mosques, and civil society groups will join silently

The aim is to avoid provocation while making the absence of noise itself a political statement. As a senior monk told reporters:

“Silence echoes more loudly in the mountains.”

Blackout: A Territory in the Dark

The blackout from 6 PM to 9 PM is the second, more symbolic phase of the protest. Residents across Leh and Kargil are expected to:

• Turn off all lights and electrical appliances

• Suspend non-essential communication

• Light candles or butter lamps outside homes and monasteries

This is meant to represent what Ladakhis call “Delhi’s darkness over Ladakh” — a metaphor for being politically unheard since the UT status change.

“We are showing Delhi how it feels when your voice is switched off,” said a student volunteer in Leh.

Statehood Demand: The Heart of the Protest

When Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019, many celebrated, believing it would lead to direct governance and development. But over time, disenchantment grew.

Core concerns:

• Ladakh has no legislative assembly. All decisions flow from the Centre.

• There is no local control over land acquisition, resource use, or employment.

• Hill councils have limited power compared to state governments.

This has created what locals describe as “a democratic vacuum”.

“We are being ruled, not represented,” said a former Hill Council member.

Constitutional Safeguards: Why Sixth Schedule Matters

The demand for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India is a cornerstone of the movement. This Schedule provides autonomous powers to tribal areas in states like Meghalaya and Mizoram, enabling control over land, culture, and local governance.

Ladakh, with over 97% tribal population, fits the demographic criteria. Activists argue that granting these protections would legally secure Ladakh’s unique cultural and environmental identity.

Land and Jobs: Fear of Being Outnumbered

One of the most visceral concerns driving the protest is the fear of demographic change.

• Ladakhis fear outsiders may acquire land, altering centuries-old patterns of community ownership.

• Youth fear losing out on jobs to non-residents.

• Local businesses fear being sidelined in tourism and infrastructure projects.

This anxiety mirrors concerns once raised in other hill and tribal regions, where unregulated land transfer has led to cultural and economic marginalization.

Sonam Wangchuk: The Movement’s Moral Voice