Activist Sonam Wangchuk arrested to divert attention from BJP's 'abysmal failure': Opposition

The arrest of activist Sonam Wangchuk was an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to divert attention from its “abysmal failure” to maintain law and order, and ensure security of life and property, in Ladakh, the Congress said on Friday.

“The crux of the issue is that the BJP has deceived the people of Ladakh for years,” said Jairam Ramesh, the Opposition party’s communications chief.

Wangchuk was arrested in Leh on Friday, two days after four persons were killed in police firing during protests seeking statehood for Ladakh.

The police firing and violence broke out on Wednesday during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Demonstrators clashed with and threw stones at the police, and set fire to the Bharatiya Janata Party office and a police vehicle.

The Union government has claimed that the violence was incited by Wangchuk’s “provocative statements”.

Following the violence, a curfew was ordered in Leh by the district administration. After Wangchuk’s arrest, internet services were suspended in Leh.

Congress leader Ramesh said on Friday that the BJP had “promised the region Sixth Schedule status in the 2020 Leh Hill Council Elections and has gone back on that promise with a vengeance”.

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution guarantees protection for land and nominal autonomy for citizens in designated tribal-dominated areas. In Ladakh,...

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