National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah Thursday said that the prevailing situation in Ladakh is a serious concern and that the Centre must stop the use of force and adopt dialogue process to resolve pressing issues.
Addressing a press conference at party headquarters here, Farooq said people of Ladakh led by activist Sonam Wangchuk were peacefully protesting for the last 15 days, demanding statehood and 6th Schedule.
He said that Sonam Wangchuk had even walked on foot from Leh to Delhi to highlight their demands, but the authorities did not address their concerns properly. "Initially protests were non-violent. The younger generation in Ladakh believed in the promises made to them. However, when these promises proved hollow, frustration grew, and they took to the streets. They abandoned peaceful means," he said.
He added that some incidents during the protests included the burning of BJP offices, police vehicles, and attempts to set public offices on fire.
Farooq Abdullah warned of broader implications, stating that Ladakh is a border region and China occupies a significant portion of the land. "Such unrest in these sensitive areas is dangerous for our nation. Efforts must be made to resolve these issues through dialogue and prevent any further escalation."
Responding to query that the protests were influenced by external forces, he said he doesn't believe any external group is behind this. "I have seen such situations before. This is the genuine voice of the local people. They will not wait indefinitely. The government must remember the promises made to Ladakh regarding elections, delimitation, and statehood," he said.
The NC patron also said that it has been almost 11 months since promises were made regarding statehood to Jammu and Kashmir , yet there has been no progress. He urged authorities to learn from the situation in Ladakh.
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