NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday claimed that Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag of inciting violence during the recent protest in Ladakh, but activist Sonam Wangchuk denied.In a post on X, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya asked whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wanted this kind of unrest in Ladakh.“This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward. He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council. Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been fantasising about?” Malviya said while sharing the photos and videos of Congress councillor. His reaction came after the violent protests that erupted in Ladakh on September 24 over demands for statehood and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The protest took a violent turn with the BJP office and several vehicles set on fire and hundreds of people taking to the streets.However, Activist Sonam Wangchuk denied the claims and said that the Congress doesn’t have such influence here and added that one of the party’s councillor yesterday reached a hospital in anger after two people from his village were brought injured to the hospital. “Congress doesn’t have such influence here that it can manage to get 5000 youth on the roads…A Congress councillor yesterday reached a hospital in anger because two people from his village were brought injured to the hospital…” Wangchuk said. The Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) youth wing staged a protest on Tuesday after two of the 15 activists on a 35-day hunger strike since September 10 were hospitalised as their health worsened.Also read: Ladakh unrest: ‘Gen Z revolution’ turns ugly; Leh admin bans protests – top developments The protest is part of the long-running demand for extending the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. The provision, currently applicable to tribal populations in Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam, grants special governance powers, autonomous councils, and financial authority.
Talks between the Union home ministry and Ladakh representatives, including members of the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), are scheduled for October 6.A fresh round of talks is scheduled between the ministry of home affairs and Ladakh representatives, comprising members of the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), on October 6.Meanwhile, Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike, has called off his 15-day strike in a video and expressed sorrow for the violence in Leh; called for peace to prevail.Also read: Ladakh violence: Sonam Wangchuk calls off hunger strike; statehood stir ends after 15 daysHe said, “I am sad to inform you that there was vandalism in Leh during a protest. Many offices and police vehicles were vandalised and burned. A bandh was announced in Leh, but the youth came in large numbers…This was youth’s anger, a Gen-Z revolution…”Sharing the video on X, Wangchuk wrote, “Very sad by the events in Leh. My message of the peaceful path failed today. I appeal to the youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause.”
