NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Leh was set on fire on Wednesday (Sept 24) as protests in support of demand for statehood for Ladakh turned violent.
A massive cloud of smoke could be seen rising from the BJP office as people shouted slogans in support of their demand for statehood.
During the protests, people clashed with police personnel who resorted to the firing of teargas shells and deployed baton charge to disperse the crowd. The police action followed after a group of youth threw stones amid the huge protest and shutdown.
The people of Ladakh have been demanding the elevation of Ladakh from its current Union Territory status to a full-fledged state, imparting it greater political autonomy and decision-making powers.
Ladakh is advocating for inclusion in the constitutional provisions under the Sixth Schedule to protect the cultural, linguistic, and land rights of the indigenous population.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has been spearheading the demand for statehood for Ladakh and he was holding his latest round of fast for the same. However, after today’s sad turn of events, he is reported to have cancelled his fast.
“VERY SAD EVENTS IN LEH. My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause,” he posted on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also Wednesday slammed the BJP over the delay in the restoration of statehood, saying that it was “unfair” to the people.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah alleged that the BJP is delaying and opposing the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir since it lost the elections.
"People participated in the election process. It is the BJP’s misfortune that they couldn’t win. However, people here can’t be punished for that. It seems like statehood is not being provided to the people since the BJP didn’t form the government.
"It is unfair to people. It was not stated that statehood will be restored only when the results favour the BJP. The opposition to statehood is coming from the BJP," CM Abdullah said.
Once a part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh became a Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two separate Union Territories in August 2019. - The Statesman/ANN
