Farooq Abdullah, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and former chief minister, has a strong warning for India’s BJP-led central government. He says they should learn from the recent deadly violence in Leh, Ladakh, where locals are pushing hard for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar on Thursday, Abdullah pointed to deep frustrations over broken promises. He noted that similar pledges for Jammu and Kashmir statehood—tied to delimitation and elections—haven’t come through yet. “The youth in Ladakh felt those five-year-old assurances were empty,” he told . “That’s why they turned to violence, burning the BJP office, police vehicles, and other buildings.”
The clashes erupted after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 14-day hunger strike on September 10. For five years, Wangchuk has led peaceful protests for Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, which offers special safeguards for tribal areas in states like Assam and Mizoram. He even walked barefoot from Leh to Delhi to draw attention to the cause. Abdullah stressed that the unrest comes from local voices, not outside agitators, and it’s especially risky in a border region where China keeps trying to stir trouble.
The violence left four people dead and more than 80 injured, including police officers. Protesters clashed with authorities, who fired tear gas and live rounds to control the crowds. In response, Leh officials slapped restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. That means no gatherings of five or more people, and no rallies or marches without written permission from the district magistrate.
Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor, Kavinder Gupta, held a high-level security meeting Thursday to tackle the fallout. He called for better vigilance, tighter coordination between agencies, and quick steps to keep peace and order in the union territory.
Not everyone supports the violent turn. Haji Ghulam Mustafa, legal adviser for the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, condemned the clashes. He said their five-year campaign for statehood and Sixth Schedule status has stayed peaceful, with good cooperation from the government so far.
The Ministry of Home Affairs backs up the dialogue efforts. It says India has held multiple formal and informal meetings with Ladakh leaders through a High-Powered Committee and sub-committee. These talks have brought real wins: boosting reservations for scheduled tribes from 45% to 84%, reserving one-third of council seats for women, recognizing Bhoti and Purgi as official languages, and starting recruitment for 1,800 jobs.
Still, the ministry warns that some politically motivated people are trying to derail the process. The next High-Powered Committee meeting is set for October 6, with more talks planned for September 25 and 26. Abdullah agrees the government needs to act fast on Ladakh’s statehood demands to avoid more sparks—especially with national security on the line near the China border.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
