Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday described the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk as “unfortunate,” accusing the BJP-led NDA government of reneging on its promises.
“This is unfortunate. Given how the Central government pursued him since yesterday, it seemed inevitable that something like this would happen,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of the third Junior Asian Pencak Silat Championship here.
“Promises were made to the people there… I don’t understand what compels the Central government to backtrack after making commitments,” he added.
Wangchuk was taken into custody two days after violent protests in Ladakh left four people dead and 90 others injured. Details regarding the specific charges against him were not immediately available.
The Home Ministry has held Wangchuk, a senior member of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), responsible for provocation that led to the violence. LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been leading the agitation demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for more than five years.
Abdullah recalled that prior to the Hill Council elections in Leh in 2020, a Union minister visited the region after residents had decided to boycott the polls.
“Promises were made to encourage participation. Not only did the people vote in large numbers, but their participation also helped the BJP secure a win. Yet, those promises were never fulfilled—just like with us,” he said.
Referring to the pledge to restore J&K’s statehood after assembly elections, Abdullah said the electorate participated in the polls in good faith, leading to the formation of a government based on those assurances.
He questioned whether statehood is being withheld because the BJP did not come to power in J&K. “If that’s the case, they should openly tell the court that statehood will only be restored once BJP forms the government,” he remarked.
Responding to Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma’s claim that Abdullah was justifying violence in Ladakh, the CM dismissed the allegation, saying the BJP MLA “always pins the blame on others.”
