Following the brutal police firing on protestors in Leh on September 24 killing four and injuring 70-80, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) declined the government's move for a  dialogue with them. The government says it is open to talks – case closed.

India is handling Ladakh exactly how China would want: backtracking on promises of statehood and Sixth Schedule; not addressing unemployment (presently 26%); no basic amenities including potable water; ignoring local aspirations of   participation in administration; Leh without a Member Parliament; Lt. Governor, chief secretary and DGP (Director General of Police) at Leh from Jammu for mutual support and following central diktats.

DGP Ladakh chose to fire live bullets, not water cannons, tear gas or even blank rounds. Decorated war veteran Havildar Tsewang Tharchin of 3 Ladakh Scouts was also killed in police firing (https://share.google/AaqvWdJyaTLqYJT36). To save the DGP’s a**e, Sonam Wangchuk was arrested and accused as an ISI agent.

Land For Mining?

The representatives of the 'deep state' say the real motive for demanding Sixth Schedule is to create "hurdles" in the Indian Army’s infrastructure projects in Ladakh (sic); this with Ladakhis among the most patriotic, peace-loving and pro-Army Indians. Wangchuk’s Ice Stupas and portable solar-heated tents for the Army are famous. J&K Governor NN Vohra visiting Leh in 2019 on SECMOL completing 30 years, said the Nobel peace prize should be awarded to Sonam Wangchuk and in 10 years Ladakh will be world famous.

On the RSS centenary, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat warned of environmental degradation of Himalayas due to faulty development models and materialistic-consumerist approaches. This is exactly what the Ladakhis and Wangchuk worry about, given Ladakh’s weak ecology (avalanches, mudslides, roads blocked and many areas completely cut off in winters), and the natural disaster in 2010 that killed at least 255 people.    

But the 'deep state', centred on the politico-corporate nexus has no compunctions about allotting prized land to the corporates for mining, irrespective of whether it impinges on livelihood of the locals (like grazing grounds of Pashmina sheep) or the ecology.  Wangchuk has also been pointing out the Chinese PLA's occupation of Ladakhi territory in 2020 which the government is loath to admit.  

The ground situation in Ladakh is succinctly described by veteran Maj. Gen. Yash Mor that can be heard here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HsFPOA4YUQ), as well as by veteran Maj. Gen. Rajan Kochhar here (https://youtu.be/2qFXHdEnbQ8?si=szdJrR-pjA5aFmUG). A veteran DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) seeks urgent addressal of the civil-military status (https://www.generalvinodbhatia.com/pdf/STATUS-AND-HONOUR.pdf). 

A very senior three-star veteran says the military hierarchy should take up with the central government consequences of mishandling the border state of Ladakh. But with the Bihar elections approaching, the army chief is threatening obliteration of Pakistan and the air chief has hiked the number of Pakistani aircraft shot in Op Sindoor to 10-12; double or more of the five jets, including a Rafale we lost on the first day.  

With West Bengal elections after Bihar, we may hear voices about how we will liberate Tibet. A veteran-scholar, close to the power centre, wrote three years back that the government has infected the military’s head so effectively that the fence has started eating the crop. But the public is elated with stories like how India  destroyed Turkey’s gas pipeline (https://youtu.be/xJOJaSA4oKg?si=zhAcKbobz8yuWVKP), with no government move to stop such crap or issue a counter.  

Wangchuk's Prison Appeal

Wangchuk has always protested peacefully. Earlier when he marched from Leh to New Delhi heading a group of volunteers, they were arrested on reaching the destination but given no official audience.

Wangchuk has always praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government has sought his support for events ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations and World Heritage Week in Leh (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/now-a-security-threat-wangchuk-was-govts-expert-for-all-seasons-10281141/lite/).

Wangchuk was arrested on September 26 under the National Security Act (NSA) after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cancelled the registration of Wangchuk’s NGO SECMOL. Wangchuk’s wife has petitioned the Supreme Court against his arrest but nothing much can be expected since the arrest is under NSA. SECMOL has denied receiving foreign funds and the MHA is aware of the donors in India but Wangchuk was required as a scapegoat.

Wanhgchuk’s message from prison reads: “I am doing well…My heartfelt condolences to the families of those people who lost their lives and my prayers with people who are injured and are arrested. There should be an independent judicial Inquiry into the killing of our four people …..I stand firmly with Apex Body and the KDA and the people of Ladakh in our genuine constitutional demand for Sixth Schedule and statehood and whatever actions Apex Body takes in the interest of Ladakh,…I appeal people to keep peace and unity and continue with our struggle peacefully- in the true Gandhian way of non-violence.” 

Playing Into Chinese Hands

The politico-corporate nexus in India is a reality; corporates are given prized land since they substantially fund elections, because of which enormous bank loans given to them are written off periodically. In 2020, the government allotted 150 sq km of Ladakh pasture land to corporates with no safeguard to locals, who fear this may increase further, aggravating climate change and adversely affecting ecology.  

There appears something drastically amiss with the 'deep state' playing the game of what China wants in Ladakh. This too at a time when China is deliberately targeting India with racist social media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElrlIJYBQU8) and pullback of PLA is utopian. Lobsang Sangay, former president of Tibetan Government in Exile, warns how China “buys” politicians,  diplomats/bureaucrats, intellectuals,  businessmen,  journalists  and the like  (https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ndtv-exclusive-lobsang-sangay-they-buy-politicians-tibet-leader-warns-india-of-chinas-elite-capture-9328572). Take it for granted China has already been doing so for a long time, and some of those who have served in China may already be on Beijing’s payroll!

(The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views expressed are personal)