The BJP-led central government blamed for failing to fulfill promises made during the 2019 bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir
NEW DELHI – The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) New Democracy has strongly condemned the police firing on protesting youth in Ladakh on September 24, which resulted in four deaths and injuries to hundreds of demonstrators. Among those killed were three young men aged between 19 and 21.
It underlined that the youth protest was part of the agitation going on for a long time in Ladakh, in which main demands include statehood for the region and its inclusion under Schedule VI of the Constitution. Well known activist Sonam Wangchuk and 34 others had been on indefinite hunger strike since September 10.
The party criticised the Union Government’s delayed response, pointing out that even after the health of two elderly hunger strikers worsened on September 23, the Centre refused to advance its scheduled meeting with protestors, which is currently set for October 6. This triggered the youth-led protest march on September 24, which ended up in the tragic deaths and large-scale violence.
CPI(ML) New Democracy blamed the BJP-led central government for failing to fulfill promises made during the 2019 bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir — including granting statehood to Ladakh and addressing local concerns over jobs and land ownership.
“The government is now blaming Sonam Wangchuk for inciting violence instead of acknowledging the growing frustration among Ladakhi youth,” the party said in its statement.
The party accused the government of trying to suppress democratic voices through force and drew parallels with the ongoing crisis in Manipur, where ethnic violence has continued for many years without meaningful intervention from the Centre.
The left party demanded an immediate end to repression in Ladakh, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, concrete steps toward granting statehood, a halt to the vilification of protest leaders, and immediate dialogue with people’s representatives.
The party called on citizens across the country to stand in solidarity with the people of Ladakh.
