Ladakh Corporatized

Ashish Kundra, Chief Secretary–designate, Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, recently called on Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi. This was an unprecedented first. The chief secretary-designates of Delhi Government never ever called on the army chief, nor did any from Jammu and Kashmir, which borders Pakistan. So, why did Kundra do so? A very senior three-star veteran writes that this is to ensure the army toes their line but simultaneously asks, “Why is the Army not opposing the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk with no apparent justification, which is affecting the equation with the locals; after all it is the Army which has to bear the brunt.” A former Army Vice Chief says this is to ensure that the Army remains mum when “strategic roads are used for mining”.  

BJP MP Tapir Gao from Arunachal Pradesh made a statement in the Lok Sabha on November 19, 2019, that China had occupied 50-60 km of Indian territory. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju responded by saying due to the undermarketed boundary, movements by either side were often perceived as intrusions. But in 2020, Sonam Wangchuk got on the wrong side of the Centre by wanting to lead the Pashmina March to the border in Ladakh, to highlight traditional grazing grounds of Ladakhis occupied by the PLA, but the Ladakh Administration blocked the march, and similarly blocked the ‘Silent March’ called by Ladakhis on October 18, 2025, to express solidarity with protesters killed in police firing at Leh on September 24, 2025. 

On October 22, 2025, Ladakhi leaders, led by Lok Sabha MP from Ladakh Mohammed Haneefa Jan, met MHA officials on October 22, reiterating demands for statehood and protection under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (which was promised by the BJP), and demanded release of detained protestors, including Sonam Wangchuk arrested under the NSA. But there was no positive response from the MHA.  

Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of Sonam Wangchuk has been fighting a legal battle against Wangchuk’s arrest, but the government has deliberately delaying its response and dragging the case in order to push the corporate interests in Ladakh. Each time there is a hearing, another date is given with a gap of a couple of days. This is not surprising at all considering the legal battle Warrior Colonel Mukul Dev has been fighting in the Supreme Court over the past several months for grant of Non-Functional Upgradation allowance for the Armed Forces.

Government cannot say no because it has granted NFU to other services, including Railways. So, every time a hearing is scheduled, the Attorney General / Additional General (supported by a battery of Junior CGSCs) is indisposed to get the hearing postponed. The judiciary dare not tell the government to end this charade. Another example of backstabbing the military is Captain Viriato Fernandes, MP from Goa, writing to the defence minister that non-release of funds by his ministry has created a grave situation of stopping medical facilities for veterans under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).    

Sonam Wnagchuk’s request to appear virtually in hearings has been rejected by the Centre, saying this would set a bad precedent. False propaganda was spread that Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali is a foreigner. Gitanjali has been teaching Upanishads and Bhagvad Gita, which should put some people to shame.Meanwhile, according to the media reports of November 21, 2025, Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor, Kavinder Gupta, has cleared 16 major projects spanning the Army, Power Development Department (PDD), and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), all located within the ecologically sensitive “Karakoram” and “Changthang” Wildlife Sanctuaries. 

The Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary has a “proposed area” of 16,500 sq km, while the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary has a “proposed area” of 9,695 sq km. Both increased from their original sizes, which were approximately 5,000 sq km and 4,000 sq km, respectively, according to a 1987 notification. Gupta underscored that while defence infrastructure is critical to Ladakh’s security and national interests, every project must uphold the region’s fragile ecosystem. He said no compromise would be tolerated regarding adherence to environmental safeguards, especially given the sanctuaries’ high-altitude biodiversity and vulnerability to human-induced disturbances.

The combined proposed area of these sanctuaries is 26,245 sq km. But do these projects include the pasture lands of locals which were allotted earlier to the corporates for power projects. What about mining disregarding the fragile ecology? Amusingly, Gupta ordered total prohibition on dumping leftover food or garbage outside army complexes. This politician is obviously unaware that much before the political hierarchy of the country began photo-ops wielding brooms under the Swachh Bharat missions, army establishments and cantonments and complexes were models of cleanliness.

It is no secret that politicians depend heavily on the corporates because the latter fund elections and control all media, which is why their bank loans are written off and they are given the land of their choosing to make millions/billions be it anywhere in India, with judiciary in tow. The example of Chhattisgarh High Court upholding  cancellation of community forest rights for villagers, in favour of a project involving a corporate was mentioned in these columns earlier (https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/chhattisgarh-hc-upholds-cancellation-of-forest-rights-of-ghatbarra-villagers-in-hasdeo/article70171979.ece).

Now the Aravali Hills are in the crosshairs of the politico-corporate-builder nexus. Despite the Forest Survey of India red-flagging construction in the Aravali Hills, the government took off 90% of the green shield of these hills (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/forest-survey-had-red-flagged-but-govt-took-green-shield-off-90-per-cent-aravalli-hills-10388228/). After massive protests in Rajasthan and the Supreme Court intervention, the Centre has said no “fresh” mining lease will be given in Aravali Hills. But over 1,230 mining leases have already been issued in Rajasthan alone (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rajasthan-over-1230-mine-leases-exist-across-aravalis-in-the-state-rajsamand-district-alone-accounts-for-over-540/articleshow/126211108.cms) and what stops the mafia from backdating more, looking at the colossal financial bonanza? Also, environmentalists have warned that the Centre’s move to shift to a height-based marker linked to local relief will significantly shrink the legally recognized ranges. A zoo and a safari is also announced in Aravali Hills. The mafia may lie low for sometime but will eventually win.

TV visuals of yore showed former Brigadier BD Mishra (of dubious IPKF fame), wearing his regimental cap and tie, kowtowing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So, he was knighted and posted as Governor Arunachal Pradesh, and later shifted as LG to UT Ladakh. Speculation is that he was dumped and replaced by Kavinder Gupta because he was probably not for arresting Sonam Wangchuk. Where Mishra is cooling his heels is not known but post the police firing in Leh on September 24, 2025 it emerged that the current LG, Chief Secretary and DGP are all from Jammu, handpicked to cover each other and promote the agenda of the Centre. Hence Kundra is now being sent to Ladakh.   

Sonam Wangchuk can be expected to continue rotting in jail at least till the land is handed over to corporates and their projects (mining included) are completed or are in full swing, given the stance of the Centre. In addition to the Pashmina March that would have exposed China’s land-grab, Wangchuk’s crime (as perceived by the Centre) was voicing Ladakhis demands for political and administrative participation, as well as protecting the fragile ecology and their livelihood. With 97%  tribal population in Ladakh, they can’t be declared illegal immigrants and pushed into Tibet, but they are apparently  considered a nonentity, as corporates drive  Centre’s Ladakh policy (https://southasiamonitor.org/perspective/are-corporates-driving-indias-ladakh-policy)

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