Ladakh leader says Article 370 once resented, now seen as protection

Chering Dorje Lakruk, a prominent Buddhist community leader and co-chair of the Apex Body, Leh (ABL), has said that while Ladakhis once regarded Article 370 of the Indian Constitution as a burden, in retrospect many see it as having protected their land, culture, and livelihoods for 70 years.

Lakruk, who also heads the Ladakh Buddhist Association, made these remarks in an interview with The Indian Express. He claimed that with the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Ladakh has become “open for the entire country,” and warned that local safeguards are no longer effective.

He expressed concern over outsiders acquiring land, hotel chains expanding operations, and locals losing authority over their own territory.

He also criticised the lack of fulfillment of promises made when Ladakh was granted Union Territory (UT) status. He noted that since 2019, no gazetted positions have been filled; recruitment has been largely contractual; the local recruitment system has been dismantled; there is still no Public Service Commission in Ladakh; and local (legislative) powers remain limited.

Lakruk further stated that institutions which once had substantial local decision-making power, such as the Autonomous Hill Development Councils, have had many of their functions reduced or taken over by the UT administration and bureaucrats.

He argued that even though land matters are technically under the council’s jurisdiction, nothing moves forward without approval from the UT administration.

He pointed out economic concerns as well, lamenting that development has tilted in favour of large scale investment rather than local enterprises.

He questioned how small guest-house owners could compete with big hotel chains. Lakruk also raised environmental worries, especially regarding a proposed solar project involving tens of thousands of gigawatts, saying it would consume fragile pastoral land and bring an influx of outside workers into areas traditionally used by nomadic herders.

Local protests in Ladakh have become increasingly frequent, driven by youth unemployment, loss of land control, and anxiety about cultural dilution. Lakruk said that much of the anger is spontaneous but built over years, since UT formation.

In response, local bodies including the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been pushing for protections under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which could grant more autonomy over lawmaking, land, and forest matters. They argue this is necessary to preserve Ladakh’s distinct identity, cultural heritage, and environment.