On September 24, 2025, a police vehicle was set on fire by protesters on the street near the Indian National Congress (BJP) office in Leh, Ladakh. Source: NBC News
The "Print" newspaper published an article on October 6 titled "Modi Remains Silent on Ladakh Issues, Just Like on Manipur, a Wider Misstep," which states that large-scale protests erupted in Ladakh, leading to violent clashes between protesters and police, with the BJP central leadership remaining silent. This silence highlights the failure of governance in India's border regions and exacerbates the trust crisis between the central and state governments. The author, D.K. Singh, is the editor of the political section at "Print."
Lahaul and Spiti, the capital of Ladakh, witnessed large-scale protests on September 24, where youth groups clashed violently with the police, resulting in four deaths and dozens of injuries after the police opened fire. The protests were initiated by Sonam Wangchuk, one of the leaders of the "Leh Apex Body" (LAB), a group advocating for Ladakh's statehood, who launched a hunger strike to demand that Ladakh be granted "statehood" and included in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (a clause that grants specific states a series of reserved privileges, including the restriction of outsiders from purchasing land within the state). On September 27, the Indian government arrested Wangchuk on charges of "inciting violence." The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that Wangchuk made "inciting remarks" and claimed that the police were forced to open fire in self-defense.
After the incident broke out, Modi remained silent on the situation in Ladakh on social media, only commenting on the death of a famous novelist and Saudi Mufti, cabinet decisions, and the development plan for Bihar. Similarly, the Home Minister Shah also maintained a similar silence on his social media platforms. This approach mirrors the previous strategy of the BJP government in handling the unrest in Manipur.
The BJP leadership's "policy of silence" is unhelpful for governing the border regions. Manipur remains deeply mired in ethnic hostility and disputes. Although the Ladakh protests differ from the situation in Manipur, as a core area of the India-China border, the peace and stability of Ladakh are more significant for India's national security. Currently, the BJP government has not even publicly called for calm and restraint in Ladakh, while Indian media is filled with reports suggesting foreign conspiracy behind the event. Such behavior has disappointed the people of Ladakh, who made significant sacrifices during the Kargil War, and has increased local people's distrust and hostility toward the center.
The current crisis reflects the failure of the central government's policy towards Ladakh. The central government had promised to apply the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, but failed to fulfill this promise. The government also showed no signs of intelligence preparation or crisis forecasting. The current government revoked the registration certificate of the NGO led by Wangchuk, citing minor foreign donations of Rs 3.35 lakh, raising doubts about whether it is a deliberate political suppression. These policy failures show that although the current Home Minister Shah is a strong organizer, he also serves as the de facto president of the BJP, making it difficult for him to handle multiple crises simultaneously. In the context of India's current complex internal and external contradictions, India urgently needs a dedicated Home Minister to address the political and social unrest in the border regions.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7559258562485174836/
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