A large protest erupted in Ladakh on Monday as residents demanded statehood for the Union Territory and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. The demonstrations triggered a shutdown in Kargil, where shops, businesses, and several institutions remained closed in response to calls from local groups supporting the demands.

Hundreds of people reportedly took to the streets in Kargil to voice their concerns over political representation and the protection of local land and employment rights. Protesters carried banners and raised slogans urging the central government to grant statehood to Ladakh and include the region under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which offers administrative and cultural protections to tribal areas.

Local organisations and community leaders said the shutdown was organised to highlight long-standing concerns that residents believe have not been adequately addressed since Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019. Many protesters argued that the absence of a legislative assembly and limited local decision-making powers have created uncertainty about governance and development priorities in the region.

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Demonstrators also emphasised the demand for the Sixth Schedule, which provides constitutional safeguards for tribal populations through autonomous district councils with legislative powers over land, resources, and local governance. Supporters say such protections are necessary to preserve Ladakh’s unique cultural identity and prevent uncontrolled external influence over land ownership and employment.

Authorities monitored the protests to maintain law and order, though there were no immediate reports of major violence during the demonstrations. However, the shutdown disrupted normal activity in parts of Kargil as residents joined the protests or kept establishments closed in solidarity with the movement.

The renewed agitation highlights the ongoing political debate over Ladakh’s administrative future. Since the region was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and designated as a Union Territory, several civil society groups and political organisations have repeatedly called for greater constitutional safeguards and democratic representation.

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