On September 26, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his deep concern over the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, branding it “unfortunate.” Abdullah accused the BJP-led NDA government of failing to uphold its promises to the people of Ladakh.
During a press interaction at the third Junior Asian Pencak Silat championship in Jammu, Abdullah addressed media reporters, stating, “This (Wangchuk’s arrest) is unfortunate. The way the Central government was after him since yesterday, it seemed they would do something like this.” His remarks reflected growing discontent with the Central government’s handling of the situation.
Climate activist Wangchuk faced arrest on Friday, just two days following violent protests in Ladakh, which resulted in four fatalities and 90 injuries. The exact charges against him remain unclear, but the Ministry of Home Affairs has implicated Wangchuk, a prominent figure in the Leh Apex Body (LAB), as partly responsible for inciting the unrest.
Abdullah highlighted the history of unfulfilled promises made by the Union government. He recalled a previous event before the Hill Council elections in Leh in 2020, where a Union minister visited amid an election boycott by locals. Abdullah stated that the government had made commitments to encourage local participation, yet those promises have faded away.
“Promises were made to make people contest and participate in the elections,” Abdullah said, noting the overwhelming voter turnout that favored the BJP. Yet, he lamented that these assurances have not translated into tangible progress for Ladakh’s constituency.
Furthermore, Abdullah has vocally questioned the delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood under the pretext of promising legislation. He stated, “Referring to the promise of restoration of J&K’s statehood after the assembly elections, the people participated in those elections, and a government was formed based on those promises.”
The Chief Minister insinuated that the Central government’s reluctance to restore statehood might stem from political considerations. “Are the people of J&K being kept away from statehood because they didn’t elect the BJP?” he inquired. This raises concerns about the relationship between electoral outcomes and state governance.
In response to accusations from Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who claimed Abdullah was condoning violence in Ladakh, the Chief Minister asserted that the BJP MLA consistently shifts blame to others, suggesting a narrative dissolved in political rivalry.
As public unrest continues in Ladakh, the future of statehood and local governance hangs in the balance. Wangchuk’s arrest indicates significant tensions in the region, particularly surrounding demands for autonomy and political representation.
