Recent protests in Ladakh, demanding statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, have taken a violent turn, leading to a political blame game between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party. The BJP has accused a Congress councillor, Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, of inciting violence during the demonstrations.
The BJP IT Cell head, Amit Malviya, shared a video on social media平台, purportedly showing Tsepag instigating a mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council. Malviya questioned whether this was the kind of unrest that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been "fantasizing about". BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the protests were not led by "Gen Z," as some had claimed, but by Congress, with Tsepag as the main instigator. Patra further claimed that Rahul Gandhi, in collaboration with George Soros, was working to "break" the country.
The protests, which have been ongoing for years, saw stone-pelting for the first time in Ladakh's recent history. Groups of youth reportedly set ablaze a security vehicle and targeted the BJP office, setting fire to furniture and papers within the complex. Police responded with tear gas and batons after demonstrators allegedly turned violent and pelted stones. The Union Home Ministry stated that at least 30 police and CRPF personnel were injured in the violent protest and that police had to resort to firing in self-defense.
As of Thursday, September 25, 2025, reports indicate that 48 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. Authorities have imposed Section 144 in Leh and Kargil to control the situation.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike over the demands, denied the BJP's claims that Congress was behind the violence. He stated that Congress doesn't have enough influence to mobilize thousands of youth and that the councillor in question had gone to a hospital in anger after two people from his village were injured. However, officials analyzing the events suggested that Congress leaders made statements that sounded like instructions, misleading the youth. Wangchuk has called for peace and expressed sorrow over the vandalism. He also ended his 15-day hunger strike following the outbreak of clashes in Leh over demands for statehood and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.
The protests are rooted in long-standing demands for statehood for Ladakh, extension of the Sixth Schedule to the region, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and employment reservations. Protestors argue that without Sixth Schedule protections, Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem, land rights, and cultural identity face severe threats. The Sixth Schedule, applicable to tribal areas in the northeast, provides autonomy through elected councils with financial and administrative powers.
The clashes have intensified the political blame game, with the Congress party blaming the Modi government for mishandling the situation and delaying talks. Congress leader Manish Tewari demanded a "forensic examination" of how a peaceful protest turned violent. Omar Abdullah stated that Ladakh's unrest reflected broader discontent with the denial of statehood across Jammu and Kashmir. The next meeting between government representatives and Ladakhi groups is scheduled for October 6.
