Sonam Wangchuk says Ladakh talks avert Manipur-like crisis

Activist Sonam Wangchuk said the latest talks between Ladakh representatives and the Centre have brought some relief, though he warned that trust depends on concrete action. Speaking to PTI on Saturday after a meeting with a Home Ministry sub-committee, he said the Thursday discussions changed his outlook slightly but he remained guarded. Wangchuk had earlier been detained this year, and his release order promised "an environment of trust" and "meaningful and constructive dialogue".

Wangchuk said the ground situation in Ladakh had deteriorated, with divisions between Leh and Kargil, Buddhists fighting Buddhists, and Muslims fighting Muslims. "I thought Ladakh would become another Manipur; it was heading in that direction," he said. He listed unresolved issues including the continued seizure of his mobile phone, cancellation of land lease for the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, and criminal cases linked to the September 24 protests.

Millenniumpost reports that the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance met the MHA panel on constitutional safeguards, governance and democratic powers. Both said an "in-principle understanding" had been reached on restoring democracy and extending Article 371-type safeguards similar to Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram. Wangchuk questioned whether his release was due to sympathy or Supreme Court intervention, and said the biggest trust issue remains withdrawal of protest-related cases.