Violence in Ladakh: Sonam Wangchuk says her imprisonment could cause more problems

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Thursday (September 25) that his imprisonment could create more problems for the government than his freedom and called the Home Ministry’s blaming him for recent violent protests in Ladakh a “scapegoat tactic.”

Reacting to the MHA’s statement, which blamed him for provoking the mob violence on Wednesday (September 24), Wangchuk said he was prepared to be arrested under the strict Public Safety Act (PSA).

“I see they are building a case to subject me to the Public Safety Act and throw me in jail for two years,” he told PTI over the phone, adding that “I am ready for that, but Sonam Wangchuk in jail might cause them more problems than releasing Sonam Wangchuk.”

The climate activist also said: “To say that (the violence) was instigated by me, or sometimes by Congress, is scapegoating, rather than getting to the heart of the problem, and it will get us nowhere.” »

“They may be smart in making someone else a scapegoat, but they are not wise. Right now, we all need wisdom rather than ‘intelligence’ because young people are already frustrated,” Wangchuk said.

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The activist strongly attributed the eruption of violence to anger over long-standing grievances, primarily the frustration of the region’s youth, and believed the real cause was “the frustration of six years of unemployment and broken promises at all levels.”

He accused the government of misleading the public by claiming that partial job reservations had been successful, noting that key demands for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to protect Ladakh’s tribal status and fragile environment remained “intact” after five years of peaceful appeals.

Wangchuk said that by employing the “scapegoat tactic,” the government is “not actually taking steps for peace,” but rather is taking steps that will “further aggravate” the situation by diverting attention from the people’s basic demands.

The Ladakh statehood movement led by Wangchuk degenerated into violence, arson and street clashes in Leh on Wednesday (September 24), leaving four people dead and at least 80 injured, including 40 police officers, officials said.

As the sun set on what is arguably the worst day of violence since 1989 in this cold, desert region, Wangchuk called off his fortnightly hunger strike to press his demands, while authorities imposed a curfew in Leh district.

Earlier in the day, groups of youths, indulging in arson and vandalism, targeted the BJP and Hill Council headquarters and set vehicles on fire.

Read more: Ladakh violence: Sonam Wangchuk misled people by citing Arab Spring and Gen Z protests in Nepal, says Center

Police and paramilitary forces, deployed in force across the city, fired tear gas shells to bring the situation under control, officials said.

In a statement issued yesterday evening, the Union Home Ministry said the mob violence was motivated by the “provocative statements” of activist Wangchuk and some “politically motivated” individuals, unhappy with the progress made in the ongoing talks between government officials and Ladakhi groups.

The ministry said that barring a few unfortunate incidents that occurred early on Wednesday, the situation was under control as of 4 p.m. and asked everyone not to spread old provocative videos in media and social media.

“It is well known that the Government of India has been actively engaging with the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance. A series of meetings were held with them through the formal channel of the High Level Committee (HPC), as well as the sub-committee and multiple informal meetings with the leadership,” the statement issued on Wednesday said.

“However, some politically motivated people were dissatisfied with the progress made under the HPC and tried to sabotage the dialogue process,” he added.

The next meeting of the High Powered Committee is scheduled for October 6. Meetings are also planned for September 25 and 26, with the leaders of Ladakh.

Terming the events heartbreaking, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said everyone has the right to express themselves peacefully in a democratic system, but what happened was not spontaneous and was the result of a conspiracy. “We will not spare these people who have spoiled the atmosphere here.” The curfew was imposed as a precautionary measure to avoid more victims, he said.

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