Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday that the prevailing situation in Ladakh was a serious concern and the Centre must resort to dialogue instead of force to resolve the issue.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here in Srinagar, Farooq said people of Ladakh, led by Sonam Wangchuk, had been peacefully protesting for the past 15 days, demanding statehood and the Sixth Schedule.
He said Wangchuk had even walked on foot from Leh to Delhi to highlight their demands, but the authorities did not address their concerns.
“These protests were initially peaceful, as the younger generation believed in the government's promises. However, when these promises faded away, frustration grew, and they took to the streets. They abandoned peaceful means,” he said.
He added that the events, like burning the BJP office and torching vehicles, were unfortunate.
Farooq warned of broader implications, saying that Ladakh is a border region with China, and unfortunately, a significant portion of the land is occupied by China.
“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,” he said.
Responding to a question that the protests were influenced by external forces, he said he doesn’t believe in such conspiracy theories.
“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.
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