Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal expressed grave concerns regarding the situation in Ladakh during a recent statement on social media platform X. Kejriwal questioned whether India achieved freedom from British colonial rule only to become subservient to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a strongly worded post, he accused the BJP of being “intoxicated” by the allure of power and accused the party of converting states into Union Territories while undermining constitutional rights. “What is happening in Ladakh today is extremely alarming. Every true patriot should stand with the people of Ladakh. Did we attain freedom from the British just so that the public would become slaves to the BJP?” he wrote, referencing the sacrifices made by Indian freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad for democratic governance.
Kejriwal further criticized the BJP for allegedly suppressing the voices of Ladakhi residents, who, despite repeated assurances from the party, have yet to receive the right to vote. He stated, “What are the people of Ladakh demanding? They are simply asking for their right to vote, the right to choose their government. But the BJP is suppressing their voice.” He urged the public to raise their voice in defense of democracy, warning that the current struggle in Ladakh could symbolize a larger national issue.
In related developments, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, led a high-level security meeting to assess the situation amid protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status, which have reportedly escalated to violence and clashes with police. Gupta emphasized the necessity for increased vigilance and effective inter-agency coordination to maintain peace and order in the Union Territory.
