Left parties criticize Centre for mishandling Leh protests turning violent

Leh

A massive police operation is ongoing in Ladakh following violent clashes in Leh on Wednesday, which left four protesters dead and around 90 others injured. Pre-dawn raids led to the arrest of nearly 50 people after Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta promised strict action against those responsible. Curfew remains in Leh, and restrictions have been imposed in Kargil following a shutdown call demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.

The police have filed an FIR against Congress Councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag in connection with the unrest, though it is unclear if he has been detained. Security forces, including the CRPF, ITBP, and local police, have been deployed to restore law and order.

Angry protesters had set fire to the BJP office and the Ladakh Hill Council Secretariat. The BJP accused Congress of instigating the violence, releasing photos showing Councilor Tsepag allegedly participating in the unrest. The Centre also blamed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, claiming his provocative speeches during a 15-day hunger strike helped incite the mob. Wangchuk had referenced protests in Nepal before ending his strike when violence erupted.

Since Ladakh became a separate Union Territory in August 2019, residents have increasingly demanded statehood and constitutional protections for local land, culture, and resources. Political and religious groups from Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil have united under the Apex Body of Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, but discussions with the Union Home Minister have yet to yield results. A local leader told NDTV, “The Home Minister admitted carving out Ladakh as a UT was a mistake and rejected our statehood and Sixth Schedule demands.”

This unrest highlights deep local frustration over governance, autonomy, and the future of Ladakh.

Left parties on Wednesday condemned the Centre as violent protests in Leh left four dead and over 45 injured, including 22 policemen. The clashes followed a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body demanding statehood for Ladakh. Protesters set fire to a BJP office, a police vehicle, and private cars. CPI(M) accused the BJP of betraying Leh’s people, while CPI(ML) held the government responsible for ignoring statehood demands since Article 370’s 2019 abrogation. The Left stressed urgent attention to tribal rights, local governance, Sixth Schedule safeguards, and Ladakh’s fragile ecology.