Violence Erupts During Ladakh Statehood Protest; LG Alleges Conspiracy
NEW DELHI: Kavinder Gupta, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, claimed on Wednesday that a conspiracy was behind the violent turn of statehood protests in Leh, asserting that certain individuals were inciting unrest by drawing parallels to youth-led movements in Bangladesh and Nepal that contributed to governmental changes in those countries.
“In a democratic system, protesting is a right. However, it must be done peacefully,” Gupta stated in an interview with ANI. He expressed concern that attempts had been made to incite violence, particularly through comparisons to protests abroad. He asserted that this situation suggested a conspiracy was at play.
Gupta warned of severe consequences had law enforcement not intervened during the escalation of violence. He reported that police forces had been positioned to manage the situation, but noted incidents where attempts were made to harm Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. “Will we let our soldiers die like this?” he asked, highlighting that some protesters had also targeted the vehicle of the Director General of Police (DGP) by throwing stones.
A probe will be initiated to investigate the involvement of individuals in the demonstrations. Gupta emphasized, “Who is responsible for the people who have died today? It is those who incited the protest,” underscoring that such actions would not be tolerated as he called for peace in Ladakh.
Residents of Ladakh have been advocating for the inclusion of their Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which pertains to the administration of tribal areas in the northeast. Additionally, calls for statehood for both Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir have persisted since Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into Union Territories in 2019.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who led the protests through a hunger strike, ended his fast amid the outbreak of violence, underscoring the intensity and urgency of the situation.
