In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly criticised the Modi-led government for what he called a pattern of betrayal toward the people of Ladakh & Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, he said the ongoing crisis in Ladakh is extremely unfortunate & reflects New Delhi’s repeated failure to honour its commitments.
Omar Abdullah reminded that the Indian government had pledged to grant 6th Schedule status to Ladakh following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, a promise yet to be fulfilled.
“The people of Ladakh have been pushed to the wall. Promises have been made to them but not kept. Unfortunately, this has become a habit, especially with occupied Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
The remarks came as fresh unrest gripped Ladakh. Authorities recently reimposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, just a day after lifting a 22-day curfew.
The restrictions were reinstated amid concerns over renewed public unrest following the violent protests on September 24 in Leh, which left four people dead, including a 1999 Kargil war veteran & over 80 injured.
The violence erupted during demonstrations demanding statehood & 6th Schedule protections, with local groups accusing Indian authorities of ignoring Ladakh’s constitutional and political rights.
In response, the Modi government announced a judicial inquiry led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice B.S. Chauhan to investigate the clashes, police actions & the resulting casualties.
However, local leaders say the inquiry is a superficial move meant to defuse anger rather than address the core issue New Delhi’s consistent denial of promised autonomy.
Omar Abdullah drew a direct comparison between the treatment of Ladakh and that of Kashmir.
“You promised us statehood, yet you are not fulfilling it. Is the intent now to push Jammu & Kashmir to the wall as well? Is this because our demands are being raised peacefully & democratically?” he asked.
He stressed that both Kashmir & Ladakh were assured constitutional safeguards after 2019, yet those commitments remain unkept.
The Chief Minister concluded by calling on the Indian government to restore trust through action, not rhetoric, saying the people of the region have lost faith in repeated pledges that never materialise. #JammuKashmir#Ladakh#India
