Political blame game deepens: Home Ministry, BJP, and local police point fingers at Wangchuk and Congress. At least four dead, 90 injured as protests over statehood and safeguards turn violent in Ladakh.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, Sept 25, 2025 — A day after violent clashes in Leh left at least four protesters dead and nearly 90 injured, Ladakh’s spiraling unrest has triggered a political blame game marked by contradictions. The Union Home Ministry has squarely accused climate activist Sonam Wangchuk of inciting the mob through “provocative speeches,” even as the local administration and BJP have pointed fingers at the Congress. Adding to the confusion, police have registered an FIR against Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag for alleged involvement in the arson and attacks on government offices.
This apparent contradiction — blaming Wangchuk as the instigator while booking a Congress leader as the accused — underscores the volatile mix of politics and public anger that has been building in Ladakh for months.
On Wednesday, what began as an extension of Wangchuk’s 15-day hunger strike for statehood and constitutional safeguards spiraled out of control. Hundreds of protesters stormed out of the protest venue and targeted symbols of political authority — setting fire to the BJP office in Leh and the Ladakh Hill Council Secretariat.
⭐ The demands on which Mr Wangchuk was on hunger strike are integral part of the discussion in HPC. In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike he continued with the hunger strike and misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style…
— PIB – Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) September 24, 2025
Security forces, including the CRPF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, clashed with demonstrators through the evening. By nightfall, Leh was under curfew, Kargil under restrictions, and Ladakh under lockdown.
READ: Centre Blames Sonam Wangchuk for Ladakh Violence
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a strongly worded statement blaming Wangchuk’s rhetoric — specifically his references to “Arab Spring-style protests” and “Gen Z revolutions in Nepal” — for inciting the violence.
“On 24th September, at around 11.30 am, a mob instigated by his provocative speeches left the venue of the hunger strike and attacked a political party office as well as Government office of the CEC Leh. They also put these offices on fire, attacked the security personnel, and torched police vehicle. The unruly mob attacked the police personnel in which more than 30 police/CRPF personnel were injured. The mob continued to destroy the public property and attack the police personnel. In self-defence, police had to resort to firing in which unfortunately some casualties are reported.” the MHA said In a post on X.
Officials claimed that despite appeals from other leaders to end his hunger strike, Wangchuk persisted, drawing in students, monks, and locals who eventually erupted in fury.
Wangchuk, however, distanced himself from the violence, calling September 24 the “saddest day for Ladakh.” Ending his fast, he admitted his message of peace had failed to contain the anger: “They were not listening to anybody. They were not even afraid of bullets.”
The Ladakh violence bears the unmistakable imprint of Congress.
Here is yet another video of Deldan Namgyal, former Congress MLA from Nobra (elected in 2014), aggressively leading protestors yesterday.
It is clear—Sonam Wangchuk and Congress, propped up by foreign agencies in… pic.twitter.com/CvFv5LkCeG
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 25, 2025
FIR Against Congress Councillor
Even as the Centre placed the blame on Wangchuk, local police booked Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag after BJP leaders circulated videos alleging his participation in the mob. BJP spokespersons including Sambit Patra accused him of “fanning unrest” at the site. The police also arrested 50 persons for alleged role in the violence.
Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta termed the violence a “conspiracy” and promised stern action. “All those involved in violence and arson will face the law,” he said. The FIR followed soon after.
A Movement Years in the Making
The violence cannot be seen in isolation. Since Ladakh was carved into a Union Territory in August 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370, local grievances have mounted. Once hailed as beneficiaries of direct Central rule, many Ladakhis now feel sidelined — demanding statehood, Sixth Schedule protections, job reservations, and safeguards for land and culture.
Wangchuk, once a supporter of UT status, emerged as the symbolic face of this discontent. His hunger strikes, particularly the latest 15-day protest, drew wide participation. Observers say Wednesday’s explosion of anger was the culmination of years of simmering frustration under direct Central administration.
Contradictory Blame, Unresolved Questions
The twin narratives — one from the Centre blaming Wangchuk’s speeches and another from police targeting a Congress councillor — highlight the political sensitivities at play. Was the violence a youth-led outburst sparked by Wangchuk’s symbolism, or a politically orchestrated act involving opposition leaders?
For Ladakh’s residents, however, the core issue remains unaddressed: the demand for constitutional safeguards and genuine political voice in a region caught between strategic importance and local disillusionment.
