Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over the recent unrest in Ladakh in which four people died, saying that the Union Territory is under attack by the BJP and the RSS. Backing the UT’s statehood demand, the Congress MP called on the Centre to include Ladakh in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over the recent unrest in Ladakh in which four people died, saying that the Union Territory is under attack by the BJP and the RSS. Backing the UT’s statehood demand, the Congress MP called on the Centre to include Ladakh in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.
Blaming Wangchuk and his “provocative” statements for the violence, the police arrested him under the National Security Act (NSA) and lodged him in the Jodhpur Central Jail.
“Ladakh’s amazing people, culture, and traditions are under attack by the BJP and RSS. Ladakhis asked for a voice. The BJP responded by killing 4 young men and jailing Sonam Wangchuk,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha tweeted.
Speaking at a press conference in Leh on Saturday, Ladakh DGP SD Singh Jamwal revealed that police had apprehended a Pakistan PIO (intelligence officer) who was allegedly in contact with Wangchuk.
The Ministry of Home Affairs alleged that Wangchuk’s references to the Arab Spring and Nepal Gen Z protests stirred mob fury that resulted in the local BJP office in Leh and a few government vehicles being torched.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the government over its treatment of Wangchuk, the crackdown on protesters demanding statehood and the 6th Schedule for Ladakh. The Rae Bareily MP claimed that the government was intimidating the people of the UT, and should stop doing that.
“Stop the killing. Stop the violence. Stop the intimidation. Give Ladakh a voice. Give them the 6th Schedule,” he added in his tweet.
SONAM WANGCHUK’S PROTEST
Wangchuk, known for his activism in Ladakh, began an indefinite hunger strike on September 10 seeking constitutional guarantees, greater autonomy, statehood, and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.
The government noted that parallel channels of dialogue had been ongoing with regional groups such as the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, through a High-Powered Committee (HPC), subcommittees, and informal meetings.
On Thursday, the government cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act licence of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an institute founded by Wangchuk, citing multiple violations of the Act in light of the violence.
