Kargil, May 2: Leaders in Kargil have expressed strong concerns and “deep resentment” regarding the recent restructuring of Ladakh’s districts, which saw the Union Territory (UT) increase from two to seven districts. While the government frames the creation of new districts as a move toward decentralised, grassroots governance, Kargil leaders perceive it as a discriminatory and “divide attempt”. Leaders point out that out of the seven total districts, only two are Muslim-majority (Kargil and Drass), while five are Buddhist-majority. They argue this does not accurately reflect the overall population, which is 46.40% Muslim and 39.65% Buddhist, according to the 2011 Census.
While welcoming new districts like Zanskar and Drass, Kargil leadership expressed resentment over the exclusion of popular areas such as Sankoo-Suru and Shakar Chiktan-Shargole, which they maintain are vast, populous, and deserving of separate district status.
Member of Parliament from Ladakh Mohammad Haneefa Jan stated that a particular community is feeling isolated due to the denial of district status to Sankoo or Shakar-Chiktan. He said the long-pending demand has been ignored.
Chief Executive Councillor Dr Jaffer Akhone has termed the creation of five new districts as discriminatory, expressing strong concern over what he described as an imbalanced administrative decision.
Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) leader Sajjad Kargili described the move as a calculated attempt to weaken the unified voice of Ladakh’s people—who have been jointly demanding constitutional safeguards (6th Schedule) and statehood—by creating internal religious and regional divisions. “ The recent decision of the Government to create five new districts in #Ladakh—raising the total from two to seven—appears less an administrative reform and more a calculated attempt to fragment the unified democratic and statehood movement of the people of Ladakh, particularly the collective voice of both Buddhists and Muslims” Sajad Kargili wrote in a post.
“ While we acknowledge that regions such as Drass and Zanskar from Kargil region have long-standing demands for district status and we welcome their inclusion, the overall approach adopted by the Government raises serious concerns. The process has clearly ignored regional sensitivities, demographic realities, and principles of equitable representation.
As per the 2011 Census, Ladakh has a population of 2,74,289, of which approximately 46.40% are Muslims and 39.65% are Buddhists. However, the current reorganization results in five Buddhist-majority districts and only two Muslim-majority districts. This disproportionate distribution reflects a deeply skewed and discriminatory approach, undermining the spirit of fairness and inclusivity. Such actions risk deepening divisions and evoke troubling parallels with communal lines of division that history has shown to be dangerous” Kargili added. “ We strongly oppose this arbitrary and insensitive restructuring. In particular, we reiterate the genuine and long-pending demand for granting district status to Sankoo-Suru and Shakar Chiktan. The people of these regions have repeatedly submitted memorandums to the Government, presenting justified and well-founded demands, yet they have been consistently ignored. We stand in full solidarity with the people of Sankoo-Suru and Shakar Chiktan, and reaffirm our unwavering support for their rightful aspirations. Ladakh’s strength lies in its unity and diversity—any attempt to divide its people along communal or regional lines must be resisted firmly” he further said.
Notably, On April 27, 2026, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved five new districts—Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass—joining the existing Leh and Kargil districts.
