The BRICS TimesUnion home ministry claimed activist Sonam Wangchuk’s remarks incited violence in Ladakh, while BJP held Congress responsible for fueling unrest.
The violent clashes in Ladakh linked to the demand for full statehood were allegedly fueled by activist Sonam Wangchuk’s “provocative remarks,” the Union home ministry stated on Wednesday.
The protest spiraled into chaos in Leh, turning into arson, mob attacks and street battles that killed four people and left at least 59 others injured, including 22 police officers, according to officials.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Congress of being behind the unrest, calling it part of a “bigger conspiracy” similar to incidents seen in Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines.
Speaking at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, party MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged, “Today in Ladakh, an attempt was made to portray protests as Gen Z driven. But after investigation, it turned out this was not a Gen Z protest but a Congress protest.”
Patra also claimed, “Congress councillor Stanzin Tsepang from Upper Leh ward is the main instigator. Photos and videos show him leading workers with weapons, provoking mobs and marching towards the BJP office. He is seen inciting violence against BJP, and he is with Rahul Gandhi.”
He further alleged, “This is Rahul Gandhi’s plan with George Soros. Since they cannot win democratically, they are conspiring to divide the country.”
However, Sonam Wangchuk dismissed the accusations in a video statement, stressing that Congress does not hold enough influence in the region for thousands to join protests on its behalf.
What the Centre Said on Ladakh Violence and Sonam Wangchuk
In its statement, the Union home ministry clarified that apart from a few unfortunate incidents on Wednesday morning, the situation was brought under control by 4 pm. It also warned against spreading old or misleading videos on social media.
“The Government stands committed to the aspirations of the people of Ladakh by providing adequate constitutional safeguards,” the ministry asserted.
Officials explained that Wangchuk had begun his hunger strike on September 10 to push for Ladakh’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule and demand statehood.
“It is well known that the Government of India has been in continuous dialogue with Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance. Several meetings were held with them through the High Powered Committee, its sub-committee, and multiple informal sessions,” the statement read.
According to the ministry, these discussions delivered major outcomes, including raising Scheduled Tribe reservation in Ladakh from 45 percent to 84 percent, ensuring one-third reservation for women in local councils, and recognizing Bhoti and Purgi as official languages. Additionally, recruitment for 1,800 posts was initiated.
“But certain politically motivated individuals were not satisfied with the progress made under the High Powered Committee and tried to disrupt the dialogue process,” the ministry claimed.
The next High Powered Committee meeting has been fixed for October 6, with additional sessions scheduled on September 25 and 26 with Ladakh leaders.
The ministry also pointed out that Wangchuk’s demands were already part of the ongoing discussions. Despite repeated requests from several leaders to end his strike, he continued it while “misleading the people with provocative references to Arab Spring-style protests and Gen Z movements in Nepal.”
On September 24 around 11:30 am, the ministry said, “A mob influenced by his provocative speeches left the hunger strike venue and attacked a political party office along with the CEC Leh office. They set these buildings on fire, assaulted security forces, and torched a police vehicle.”
“It is evident that the mob acted under the influence of Sonam Wangchuk’s provocative statements. Ironically, in the middle of these events, he called off his hunger strike,” the ministry added.
