Kargil-Leh padyatra postponed ahead of MHA talks

LEH — The proposed Kargil-Leh Peace and Justice Padyatra has been postponed following the announcement of fresh talks between Ladakh representatives and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) scheduled for September 9 in New Delhi.

Leh Apex Body member and social activist Sonam Wangchuk said the decision to defer the march was taken in view of the upcoming meeting, expressing hope that the dialogue would produce a meaningful outcome.

The 15-day march was earlier scheduled to begin from Kargil on September 10 and proceed towards Leh. It was planned to highlight Ladakh’s long-pending demands, including statehood, constitutional protection under the Sixth Schedule and other issues forming part of the region’s four-point agenda.

The MHA has formally scheduled a meeting of its sub-committee with representatives from Ladakh for September 9 in New Delhi. The Ladakh Chief Secretary has described the meeting as part of the ongoing dialogue aimed at deepening democratic processes in the Union Territory.

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Wangchuk said postponement of the padyatra should not be viewed as an end to the agitation and that the outcome of the September 9 talks would determine the next course of action.

He indicated that if the discussions result in substantive progress on Ladakh’s demands, there would be no need to proceed with the march. However, if the talks again result in delays or what he described as “dilly-dallying tactics”, the padyatra would be revived.

Wangchuk also indicated that the proposed march could be modified if it is resumed. Instead of undertaking the originally planned long-distance foot march, organisers would consider a shorter version while continuing to seek support for the broader demands of the people of Ladakh.

The proposed march had been conceived as a peaceful campaign covering the Kargil-Leh route and was backed by the Kargil Democratic Alliance and the Leh Apex Body, besides several political and civil-society groups.

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Organisers had planned to conclude the march in Leh on September 24, coinciding with a candlelight vigil marking the first anniversary of the September 2025 deaths during protests in Leh.

With the march now on hold, attention has shifted to the September 9 meeting in New Delhi. Its outcome is expected to determine whether the proposed street mobilisation remains suspended or returns in a shorter form.

The organisers have appealed for continued public support for Ladakh’s demands, making clear that the postponement is linked to the expectation of meaningful progress through dialogue.