Sonam Wangchuk seeks Amit Shah’s resignation over Leh violence, fears might be killed in ‘encounter’ What we know

The voice of the protest leader was unmistakable when Sonam Wangchuk spoke to a crowd of more than a thousand on the first anniversary of the violence that shook Leh on 24 September. In a speech that resonated with the raw frustration of the Ladakhi people, he urged the country’s chief minister, Amit Shah, to step down in the wake of the police crackdown that left several demonstrators dead or wounded.Wangchuk, the founder of the Democratic Party of Ladakh and a former science teacher, has long been a symbol of the movement that demanded the creation of a separate state for the Union Territory of Ladakh. The march he led in 2019, when the National Democratic Alliance government was accused of stoking communal tensions, culminated in a day of chaos and bloodshed..

The incident has since become a litmus test for the integrity of law and order in the region and, more broadly, the strength of democratic values in the country.When he addressed the assembly, Wangchuk recalled the day’s events in stark terms. “On the 24th of September, our people were met not with dialogue but with violence,” he said. “The police, under orders from the central government, used excessive force that left many innocent people dead.” The former teacher was unafraid to name the police units that were involved, citing the Central Reserve Police Force as a key player in the crackdown..

He went on to say that the police had been “directed by the central authorities” to carry out a “heavy-handed” operation that violated the constitutional right to peaceful protest.The call to resign was not a plea for a simple act of political decorum. Wangchuk argued that the chief minister’s continued leadership would signal to the rest of India that a government can use violence against its own citizens without consequence. He stated that “if the government fails to hold its own security forces accountable, it loses legitimacy.” By demanding that Shah step down, Wangchuk sought to force a reckoning within the ruling party, one that could, he suggested, lead to a broader conversation about the state’s security and the protection of civil liberties.Wangchuk also warned that the situation could deteriorate further if the police were to be given carte blanche to pursue suspects in what he described as “encounter” killings..

“We have seen the pattern in other states where the police use ‘encounter’ as a euphemism for extrajudicial killing,” he said. “I do not wish for the lives of Ladakhi people to be extinguished in this way.” He appealed to the wider public, saying that the police had a duty to act within the framework of law and not to be “murderers in the name of national security.” He also made clear that he was prepared to face any repercussions, including personal danger, if it would bring attention to the plight of the people.The speech was met with an enthusiastic response from the crowd, many of whom were visibly relieved to hear their leader confront the central authorities head on. A number of attendees raised their hands to show solidarity, while some joined the chanting of “Leh, Ladakh, State!” as a reminder of the unresolved political issue..

The atmosphere was charged but peaceful, with the sense that the protest was a continuation of a struggle that began in 2019 and had only grown more urgent.The call for resignation was a bold move by a regional leader. It was not the first time Wangchuk had confronted the central government. In 2022, he was detained on charges of sedition during a visit to the National Assembly in New Delhi..

He was released after a brief detention, and his statement then echoed the same refrain: that the state of the Union Territory was under threat and that the government had to be held accountable for the violence inflicted on its people. The 2023 protests, which escalated into violence, added a new dimension to the question of how the central government deals with dissent in sensitive regions.The political implications of Wangchuk’s demand are far from straightforward. While the BJP is the ruling party, the party’s presence in the north is fragile..

The BJP has long relied on a strategy of “covert” politics, using a combination of political pressure and economic incentives to win over regional parties. The demand for a resignation, if not met, could be a blow to the party’s standing in the region. It could also undermine the BJP’s credibility as a nation‑wide power, as it would be seen as unable to control its own forces..

Conversely, if the resignation were accepted, it could be an unprecedented act that might signal a willingness to respond to the public’s demands for accountability.The question of whether Amit Shah will resign is also tied to the broader political calculus. Shah is a powerful figure in the BJP, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a seasoned politician with a long record in national politics. Even if his name was removed from the list of ministers, there would be other ways for him to wield influence..

It would also be possible for the BJP to replace him with a lesser‑known candidate, thereby limiting the damage to the party. Thus, the resignation may have more symbolic value than practical effect, depending on how the political landscape shifts in the next few weeks.Wangchuk’s remarks, however, have already begun to influence the public discourse. His remarks were covered extensively by national media, with many outlets reporting on the between the police’s use of force and the community’s desire for peace..

Analysts in political commentary columns have highlighted that the issue may be a watershed moment for the government’s policy on “internal security.” Some political observers have pointed out that a resignation would also draw attention to the larger question of the political representation of Ladakh in the central government. A key point is that the government may consider a more comprehensive engagement strategy that includes local governance and a clearer legal framework for protests.The voice of the people has also reached the parliament. The House of Commons and the Senate have both had debates on the police’s use of force in Ladakh, with a few politicians calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the incident..

The BJP’s opposition leaders have used the event as an opportunity to criticize the ruling government for “violence against dissent.” The parliamentary debate has highlighted that there may be a need for a central legal framework that protects the rights of protesters while maintaining law and order.The next steps for Wangchuk and his party remain unclear. In the days that follow, the leaders of the Democratic Party of Ladakh may push for a more direct dialogue with central authorities. Their strategy will involve negotiating for more autonomy and a stronger guarantee for the safety of protests..

They may also push for a “special status”.