Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Modi of betraying Ladakh and demanded a judicial probe into police killings.
New Delhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “betrayed” the people of Ladakh and demanded an impartial judicial inquiry into the police firing that killed four protesters during recent statehood demonstrations. Among those dead was Kargil War veteran Tsewang Tharchin, whose father also served in the Indian Army.
Posting on X, Gandhi shared a video of Tharchin’s grieving father and condemned the government for “shooting a brave son of the nation simply for demanding rights for Ladakh.” He urged the Prime Minister to “stop the politics of violence and fear” and open dialogue with the protesters.
The Congress party echoed Gandhi’s outrage, highlighting that Tharchin—who once served at the Siachen Glacier and fought in the 1999 Kargil War—was peacefully demanding Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh when he was killed. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said the incident reflected the government’s failure to engage with legitimate public demands.
The firing occurred on September 24 when protests for Ladakh’s statehood turned violent, with agitators allegedly pelting stones and setting a BJP office ablaze. Dozens were injured as police and CRPF personnel responded.
Adding to tensions, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act on September 26 and sent to Jodhpur jail. Opposition leaders have condemned the arrests and killings, calling for accountability and immediate dialogue to address Ladakh’s long-standing political and constitutional concerns.
