Ladakh Protest : 4 dead; stir not led by Gen Z but by Congress, claims BJP
In the high-altitude region of Ladakh, longstanding grievances over governance have erupted into widespread unrest, with demonstrators demanding constitutional protections and statehood amid reports of violence and fatalities. The agitation, driven by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), centers on a four-point charter including inclusion under the Sixth Schedule a framework that grants autonomous councils, judicial powers, and safeguards for tribal areas already in force in states like Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam. After four years of advocacy and multiple negotiations with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), including a planned dialogue on October 6, tensions boiled over in Leh on September 24.
The spark came from climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 15-day hunger strike, which he initiated on September 10 alongside 14 others to highlight the need for separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, job reservations, and preservation of Ladakh’s tribal identity. Hospitalized the previous day due to health concerns, Wangchuk called off the fast amid escalating chaos, urging calm to avoid further escalation, as reported by PTI.
Protests swelled at the NDS Memorial Ground, where crowds marched through Leh’s streets chanting for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections. The demonstration turned volatile, with protesters hurling stones and setting the local BJP office ablaze, sending plumes of smoke into the sky, according to visuals from ANI. Security forces responded with tear gas and lathis to disperse the mob, deploying reinforcements to quell the disorder, per PTI accounts.
National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq described the handling of the situation as mishandled, akin to issues in Jammu and Kashmir, while condemning the violence and calling for central government talks, as told to ANI. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah highlighted Ladakh’s sense of betrayal over unfulfilled promises, contrasting it with J&K’s own stalled statehood restoration, in a post on X. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP echoed this, questioning post-2019 changes and noting the uncharacteristic unrest in the typically serene Leh.
Authorities swiftly imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS, prohibiting gatherings of five or more and unauthorized rallies or loudspeakers, announced Leh District Magistrate Romil Singh Donk, citing PTI. The annual Ladakh festival was abruptly canceled following clashes involving Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta’s planned attendance.
By September 25, the BJP attributed the stir not to youth or Gen Z but to Congress influence, amid reports of four deaths linked to the protests. Youth involvement underscored broader calls to protect Ladakh’s cultural fabric. These events reflect deepening frustrations in the union territory, where promises of autonomy clash with realities on the ground.