Ladakh Violence Sonam Wangchuk, climate activist , strongly denied starting the recent protests in Ladakh, calling the accusation a “scapegoat tactic” used to distract from real issues. Wangchuk said that arresting him under the Public Safety Act (PSA) would cause more trouble if he tried to escape, and that the real reason behind the unrest is “six years of youth unemployment and broken promises.”
“Holding (the violence) to politically motivated or caused by me misinterpretation. They are angry, but they lack wisdom. We need to exercise sagacity and not the blame game,” Wangchuk told PTI in a telephonic interview.
Statehood, Sixth Schedule, and Tribal Safeguards Ignored
Wangchuk, who represents Ladakh’s demand for statehood and constitutional guarantees, accused the government of dishonesty. He said the government only makes incomplete promises about job reservations, while ignoring key demands, such as statehood and the application of the Sixth Schedule. He said these measures would protect Ladakh’s culture and fragile environment, but the government has ignored these demands.
Leh Protests Turn Violent, Worst Unrest Since 1989
The Wednesday protest, part of two weeks of demonstrations led by Wangchuk, got out of control with reports of arson, vandalism, and violence from Leh. Police and paramilitary forces had to use teargas to end unrest after protesters attacked the BJP office and the Hill Council office. The protests left four dead and over 80 hurt, including about 40 police, the worst violence in Ladakh since 1989.
Government Imposes Curfew, Blames Wangchuk and “Conspiracy”
The government had to act by declaring a curfew in the Leh district to avert any escalation. Wangchuk broke the hunger strike in the evening, assuring categorically that he would pursue his demands through non-violent means.
Union Home Ministry, in a release, blamed Wangchuk and “politically motivated people” for sabotaging peace talks with Ladakhi groups by the High Powered Committee (HPC). The officials explained that, besides some sporadic incidents around early Wednesday, normalcy was back by 4 pm and cautioned citizens not to share inflammatory clips on social media. https://www.ptinews.com
https://civiclens.in/ladakh-protests-2025-sonam-wangchuk-violence/
Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta has referred to the agitations as “heart-wrenching” and left little doubt that they were “not spontaneous” but part of a continuing conspiracy and would not be unpunished.
Talks to Resume: HPC Meetings Scheduled in September and October
The HPC would again convene on October 6, and discussions with Ladakhi leaders would also be held on September 25 and 26.
Why It Matters: Joblessness and Political Marginalization Behind the Anger
The Ladakh uprising is also symptomatic of deep-seated structural problems — joblessness, political marginalization, and the lack of legal protection for tribal communities. Piling activists such as Wangchuk onto the wagon of guilt may sidetrack real debate and incite tensions, observers say.
The incident also mirrored how governments approach dissent, protest movements, and the intersection between security and democratic freedoms.
FOR MORE : https://civiclens.in/category/national-news-civiclens-in/
About the Author
1 thought on “Ladakh Violence: Sonam Wangchuk Denounces ‘Scapegoat Tactic,’ Cites Youth Unemployment as Core Issue”