'Stop misleading India in name of nationalism': Ladakh students slam media coverage on Leh protests

October 1, 2025 by News Desk

Ladakhi students have strongly accused sections of the national media of deliberately misrepresenting the September 24 protests in Leh as anti-national and allegedly backed by foreign agencies, calling the coverage “completely false and deeply hurtful” to the Ladakhi community.

Seven student associations from across the country wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), demanding a judicial inquiry into the violence that claimed four lives and left dozens injured.

A student leader from Ladakh said the media “lied to please certain political interests and chase votes, creating a narrative that has no grounding in Ladakh or anywhere in the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir.”

He added that such reporting misled the Indian public and harmed the reputation of Ladakhis, who remain “patriotic citizens committed to peaceful dialogue and democratic expression.” The students urged media organizations to stop “fooling the public for their narrow interests” and take responsibility for unverified reporting.

In their memorandum to the Union Home Minister, the students expressed “profound grief and unease” over the incident and called for a transparent probe under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries. “A transparent process will not only ensure accountability but also strengthen trust in the rule of law,” the letter said.

The associations also sought dignified government employment for the families of the deceased, substantial financial compensation, full medical coverage for the injured, and the immediate release of youths detained during the protests, including environmentalist Dr. Sonam Wangchuk.

The joint memorandum was signed by the Ladakh Students Forum JNU (LSF-JNU), All Ladakh Student Welfare Association Jammu (ALSWAJ), All Ladakh Student Welfare Association Chandigarh (ALSWAC), All Ladakh Student Association Kashmir (ALSAK), Student Educational Movement of Kargil (SEMOK), Ladakh Student Welfare Society Aligarh (LSWSA), and All Kargil (Ladakh) Students’ Association Delhi (AKSAD).