National Conference Patron Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday urged the Government of India to engage in meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh, warning that neglecting their long-standing demands could deepen unrest in the sensitive Himalayan region.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah said the recent violent incidents in Leh were the direct outcome of years of unaddressed grievances. He noted that Ladakhis had been demanding inclusion under the Sixth Schedule and restoration of statehood for the past five years but had only received vague assurances.
“Whatever happened in Ladakh was not good. People had been struggling peacefully under the leadership of Sonam Wangchuk, who adopted Gandhian methods, but nothing came out of it. When the youth of Leh realised their voices were being ignored, they resorted to violence,” Abdullah remarked.
He stressed that Wangchuk himself had maintained non-violence, but growing frustration pushed the youth to act. “Sonam Wangchuk didn’t do anything, but the youth of Ladakh did, and they are fighting for their rights,” Abdullah said.
The NC leader warned that Ladakh’s strategic position made the situation more delicate. “China is on our heads. The Government of India must negotiate and settle this issue. Every time something happens, they blame outsiders, but we have a bitter experience of broken promises. Kashmir was told that statehood would be given after delimitation, then after elections, but nothing happened. The same betrayal is being repeated with Ladakh,” he said.
Abdullah argued that the issue should not be allowed to fester. “It’s time to settle the matter and turn promises into action. Delhi must move faster. The people of Ladakh have been let down,” he asserted.
Turning his attention to border concerns, Abdullah as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, said the reality of Chinese occupation could not be hidden. “The whole world knows how much Indian land is in the possession of China. For how long can we take shelter in lies? It is time to face reality. Ladakh is sensitive, and China has never accepted the McMahon Line since Nehru’s time,” he said.
He also touched upon international pressures, mentioning that former US President Donald Trump recently claimed that India was supporting the Ukraine war. “This is not true. India does not support any war. But such statements show the global spotlight on our region,” Abdullah observed.
He urged restraint and rejected the path of confrontation. “NC will never accept a way where youth suffer. I don’t want bloodshed. We need dialogue, understanding, and honesty,” he said.
Abdullah was accompanied at the press conference by senior NC leaders Ali Muhammad Sagar, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Shamima Firdous and others. [KNT]
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