Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk over Ladakh statehood protest violence unfortunate. Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party, Abdullah questioned the Union government for backtracking on its promises regarding statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
"This (Wangchuk's arrest) is unfortunate. The way the Central government was after him since yesterday, it seemed they would do something like this," Abdullah told presspersons. Accusing the Centre of backtracking on its promises, Abdullah said, "Promises were made with the people there...I don't understand what compulsions does the Central government have to backtrack after making promises."
On granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah asked whether the people of J&K are being kept away from statehood because they didn't elect the BJP to power. "If that is the case, then they should tell the court that till the BJP form the government in J&K, statehood will not be restored," he said.
Activist Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act on Friday, allegedly for inciting violence during the Ladakh statehood protest on Wednesday. The protest organised by the youth wing of Leh Apex Body (LAB) turned violent and protesters pelted stones on the BJP office in Leh. Police and security forces had to lob teargas and lathi-charge protesters to contain the situation.
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Wangchuk's arrest comes a day after the Centre suspended FCRA licence of his NGO, Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, (SECMOL), alleging financial irregularities.
The Union home ministry blamed Wangchuk for the violence. In a statement, the ministry said "certain politically motivated individuals" were not happy with the progress made through talks, and they were trying to sabotage the dialogue process.
"In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike, Wangchuk continued with the hunger strike and misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal," it said. "It is clear that the mob was incited by Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements. Incidentally, amidst these violent developments, he broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance without making serious efforts to control the situation," the Union home ministry alleged.
