Climate activist and Leh Apex Body leader Sonam Wangchuk has announced a symbolic 20-km padyatra in Leh on September 23, as part of ongoing demands concerning Ladakh’s political representation, constitutional safeguards, culture and environment.
Wangchuk announced the revised plan after an earlier programme from September 19 to 23 was changed because of prevailing weather conditions and increasingly cold nights in the region. He said the new plan would see a symbolic march of 20 km from Leh on September 23 and Martyrs' Day on the next day.
The announcement comes at a time when Ladakh and the Centre are in discussions about the demands of the local community to be granted statehood and constitutional protection from the Union Territory.
Why did the Ladakh Padyatra get postponed?
Wangchuk had earlier planned a longer padyatra beginning September 19. But he said the programme was changed to deal with the current weather conditions and cold nights.
In a social media post announcing the change, Wangchuk said the march would now be a symbolic 20-km walk on September 23. He also appealed to people to join the march and said those who intend to participate should be prepared to reach Ladakh ahead of the event.
The revised programme is shorter than the original plan but still serves the purpose of drawing attention to issues raised by Ladakh's civil society groups.
What are the demands of the March?
Leh Apex Body and other Ladakh-based groups have been seeking greater political and constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.
Statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution are the major demands. The Sixth Schedule currently makes special provisions for the administration of some tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
Wangchuk’s latest declaration is also about protecting Ladakh’s culture, environment and democratic rights. The New Indian Express reported that his call for the march came after Ladakh leaders had talks with officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi on September 9. Those discussions included the possibility of a Union Territory-level elected body under constitutional safeguards.
The demands have been part of a wider political movement in Ladakh since the region became a Union Territory in 2019 after the reorganisation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Martyrs' Day will take place on 24 September.
The 20-km march will be followed by a Martyrs' Day event on September 24 in Leh.
The date is the anniversary of violence that happened in Leh during protests in September 2025. Four people died during the unrest, and many were injured. Different reports have given different numbers for the number of people injured, with the Ladakh administration cited by The New Indian Express as having four deaths and 44 people suffering major or minor injuries.
The protests at the time were linked to demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards for Ladakh. After the violence, authorities had imposed restrictions in Leh.
Wangchuk has said the September 24 event will remember those who lost their lives while seeking what he describes as protection for Ladakh’s culture, environment and democracy.
Compensation Announced For Victims
The Ladakh administration has also recently announced ex-gratia assistance for the victims of the September 2025 violence.
According to The New Indian Express, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena sanctioned Rs 15 lakh each to the next of kin of four people who died. Assistance of Rs 3 lakh was approved for people who suffered major injuries, while those with minor injuries were approved Rs 1 lakh.
The compensation was among the issues raised by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which have been involved in the broader campaign for constitutional safeguards and an elected democratic body for Ladakh.
The September 23 padyatra will therefore be taking place in the middle of ongoing negotiations and public mobilisation over Ladakh’s political future. Wangchuk has called for people to support the march, and the Martyrs’ Day programme on September 24 will be about remembering the people who died in last year’s unrest.
