Culture

Who Has Gained From Ladakh Chaos? Here’s What Govt Sources Say | Exclusive

By Manoj Gupta,News18,Pathikrit Sen Gupta

Copyright news18

Who Has Gained From Ladakh Chaos? Here's What Govt Sources Say | Exclusive

Amid the recent wave of protests and violence in Ladakh, top government sources have expressed deep concern, framing the events as a “pre-scripted act” rather than a natural outburst. Acknowledging the situation as “heartbreaking”, these sources are questioning the motives behind the unrest, especially when a path to dialogue was already in place.
According to top government sources, talks between the Centre and the Leh Apex Body were already scheduled for October 6, with plans to prepone informal discussions to September 25 and 26. This raises a crucial question: if engagement was active, why was violence still incited? The sources point to key figures and political entities, arguing that activist Sonam Wangchuk’s agenda has been clear, citing his past remarks about an “Arab Spring” in Ladakh and his admiration for the youth protests in Nepal. They also accuse the Congress of laying the groundwork for confrontation by threatening action and pushing youth towards conflict.
From this perspective, the blame for the chaos lies not with the Ladakhi youth, who are seen as emotionally exploited “pawns”, but with those who allegedly orchestrated the turmoil. The narrative suggests that the recent clashes, including stone-pelting and the torching of a BJP office, were not a spontaneous reaction but a calculated move designed to escalate tensions.
Reinforcing this stance, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has reaffirmed the government’s sincerity. He noted that the government had previously offered dates for a High-Powered Committee meeting in July but received no positive response. The L-G emphasised that safeguarding the land, employment, and culture of the Ladakhi people has always been a priority. He pointed to measures like the 85% increase in job reservations as proof of the government’s commitment. The L-G has stressed that discussions must be held with an “open mind” and in a “friendly manner”, with the people of Ladakh at the focal point of all policy decisions.