Ladakh Unrest: Omar Abdullah, Sonam Wangchuk Slam BJP

Leh/Srinagar | September 26, 2025

After violent protests in Ladakh on September 24, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and well-known climate activist Sonam Wangchuk have defended the Congress party against allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the grand old party instigated it.

The protests eventually turned to arson and included clashes between protesters and police, resulted in four dead and more than 80 injured, while thousands protested just for statehood for Ladakh, and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. Government vehicles were set on fire and a BJP office in Leh was set fire to, allegedly.

Abdullah: BJP has to stop blaming others for their failures

In addressing the situation, Omar Abdullah criticized the BJP-led administration in Ladakh for failing to keep peace and order and chiding the saffron party for changing the focus back to them.

“The government in Ladakh is under the BJP, if they fail, they always have to pass the comment onto someone else,” said Abdullah. “If the Congress had that much influence that they could incite this type of violence, why could they not win the Ladakh Hill Council in 2020?”

The leader of the National Conference emphasized that the failure was due to government administration and not government itself, and called for the Lieutenant Governor’s office to reflect instead of blaming.

“Whenever things go haywire the BJP is quick to provide some excuse. It’s about time the office considered its own accountability,” he continues, encouraging the public to refrain from violence and find a way to protest peacefully.

Sonam Wangchuk dismisses the BJP narrative, questions Congress’s alleged intent

Ladakhi activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk, and on this last count has already come under scrutiny for an alleged provocative speech, joins the chorus of voices countering the BJP’s claims, positing that Congress simply does not command the grassroots support in Ladakh it would need to execute a protest this size.

“Congress does not command that kind of influence here. It is laughable to suggest they could send 5000 to the streets,” Wangchuk replied.

He insisted that, while a Councilor did react emotionally (visiting his injured constituent) there is no discernable cohesiveness of intent on behalf of the Congress.

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Home Affairs has moved through the cancellation process of Wangchuk’s overseas funding license and a CBI inquiry is in the works into his organization over alleged financial wrongdoing.

BJP Accuses Congress Councilor

However, the BJP is standing by its allegations. Party spokesperson Amit Malviya shared on X (previously Twitter) that Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, a Congress councilor from Upper Leh, was filmed leading violent mobs during the protest.

“This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councilor for Upper Leh Ward… Is this the kind of anarchy that Rahul Gandhi has been fantasying about?” Malviya posted along with the image of a masked man who was allegedly holding a weapon even after the Chief of Police in Ladakh had announced that individuals carrying swords would be arrested.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey reiterated the claim, tagging the Congress and Rahul Gandhi directly, claiming consequences if they “play with fire,” asserting, “Your party’s elected representative has been caught setting the BJ office on fire, this is not protest, it is arson”

Call for Peace Amid Even More Rising Political Temperature

As political leaders and parties are accusing each other and counter-accusing each other, the situation on the ground is still tense. The internet has been shut down and instituted in various places in Ladakh, as security forces remain deployed in sensitive areas. The BJP continues to claim political provocation, opposition voices are calling the Centre to engage in meaningful engagement with the People of Ladakh, fulfilling their long-standing demands.