"They Feel Betrayed, Angry": Omar Abdullah On Ladakh Violence

Srinagar:

Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister, expressed on Wednesday that the unrest in Leh town should serve as a wake-up call regarding how the people of Jammu and Kashmir feel about being denied statehood, despite the fact that Ladakh was never promised such status.

His comments came after protests demanding statehood for Ladakh turned violent, with scenes of arson and street confrontations on Wednesday that resulted in four fatalities and at least 45 injured individuals, including 22 police officers.

"Ladakh wasn't even promised Statehood, they celebrated UT status in 2019 & they feel betrayed & angry," Abdullah stated in a post on his X account.

"Now try to imagine how betrayed & disappointed we in J&K feel when the promise of statehood to J&K remains unfulfilled even though we have gone about demanding it democratically, peacefully & responsibly," he further noted.

Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and president of the PDP, commented that the Ladakh situation demonstrates an urgent need for the Central government to move beyond crisis management and address the fundamental issues at play.

"It's time the Government of India undertakes a sincere and thorough appraisal of what has truly changed since 2019. This video isn't from the Kashmir Valley considered the epicentre of unrest but from the heart of Ladakh, where angry protesters have set police vehicles and a BJP office on fire," she wrote on X.

The PDP leader noted that Leh, traditionally known for peaceful demonstrations, is now witnessing a concerning trend toward violent protests.

"People seem to have lost patience, feel betrayed, insecure, and let down by unfulfilled promises.

"It is imperative that the Government move beyond day-to-day crisis management and address the root causes of this discontent urgently and transparently," she concluded.