Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday blamed the Centre’s “wrong policies” for triggering violent protests in Ladakh.
She said the Union Home Ministry had made several promises to the people of the region, but none were fulfilled in the past six years. “What happened on Wednesday was the breaking point of their patience,” Mufti told reporters.
The former chief minister noted that Ladakhis have long been demanding inclusion under the Sixth Schedule to safeguard their identity, culture, land, and employment. “They feel nothing is being done. With outsiders coming in large numbers, what will remain of them? They are only a few lakh in population,” she said.
Calling the situation alarming, Mufti urged the Centre to reflect on the developments. “A peaceful and happy place like Ladakh is burning today. Even when Kashmir and Jammu were in turmoil, Ladakh remained calm. The people of Ladakh even played a key role in the Kargil War,” she added.
Rejecting BJP’s accusation that Congress provoked the unrest, Mufti described the violence as a “people’s outburst.” She said, “The government does not want to admit its failure, so it is looking for scapegoats. If Congress had that kind of influence, the ground situation would have been different. This was a spontaneous reaction to fears of losing identity, land, and jobs.”
