Oppon blames BJP’s ‘breach of promise’ on statehood for violence in Ladakh

ASKS CENTRE TO ENGAGE IN ‘MEANINGFUL DIALOGUES’ WITH PROTESTERS

- MPOST BUREAU

The opposition parties on ‘Thursday blamed the BJP for the recent violence in Ladakh, alleging that the ruling party's “breach of promise” on statehood and restoration of power to the region triggered people's anger, as they asked the Centre to engage in “meaningful dialogues” with the protesters.

A day after clashes between security personnel and protesters demanding statehood and constitutional protection left four people dead and more than 80 injured in Ladakh, an uneasy calm prevailed in the region on Thursday as police and paramilitary troops strictly enforced a curfew in Leh.

‘The Congress trained its guns on the ruling BJP, alleging that the crisis in Ladakh was the government's own creation, and calling the demand for inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for its dignity and for the protection of its identity “legitimate” and “just”.

‘Terming the loss of precious lives in Ladakh tragic, Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said in a post on X, “It's a grim reminder of the government's failed promises. In 2019, from the floor of Parliament, the nation was assured that the humiliation being inflicted on the people of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir then would usher in peace. Six years later, the trouble has only deepened?”

"This crisis is the BJP government's own creation - one it now seeks to unfairly ignore,” he said. Ladakh's demand for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule for dignity and for the protection of its identity is both legitimate and just, Khera said.

It deserves not neglect, but compassion and statesmanship, the Congress leader said.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav too blamed the BJP for the violent protests in Ladakh, alleging that the ruling party's "breach of promise” to Ladakhis triggered angry protests.