Daijiworld Media Network – Leh
Leh, Sep 25: Left parties on Wednesday strongly criticised the Centre as violent protests rocked Leh, resulting in four deaths and over 45 injuries, including 22 policemen. The clashes erupted during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which has been demanding statehood for Ladakh for five years. Protesters set ablaze a BJP office, a police vehicle, and several private cars.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby accused the BJP of betraying the people of Leh and Tripura while cautioning that attacking party offices is not a solution. “We strongly condemn the brutal repression unleashed by the administration against the people of Ladakh, which resulted in the tragic loss of four lives,” he said.
The CPI(ML) Liberation held the Union government “solely responsible” for the unrest, citing the Centre’s 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories. The party said the government has ignored long-standing demands for statehood from both Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
The Left parties highlighted the ongoing fast by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at NDS Ground, now on its 15th day, and warned that the deteriorating health of protesting activists underscores the urgency of addressing the crisis. They stressed that, alongside statehood, Ladakhis are seeking constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, protection of tribal rights, empowered local governance, and preservation of the fragile ecology.
“The first-of-its-kind reduction of a region from state to Union Territory has deprived people of their right to participate in decision-making and planning. The Centre must respect democratic aspirations, immediately engage with the people, and ensure statehood along with inclusion in the Sixth Schedule,” the CPI(ML) said.
The BJP-led government had abrogated Article 370 in August 2019 and reorganised Jammu and Kashmir into the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, a move that continues to fuel political unrest in the region.