Srinagar: Commenting on disturbing situation in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the people there feel betrayed even when they were not promised statehood while as PDP chief and former CM, Mehbooba Mufti said that it is imperative that the Government move beyond day-to-day crisis management and address the root causes.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir too are feeling deeply betrayed as the promises made with them about restoration of statehood are not being fulfilled.
Omar Abdullah drew a comparison with Ladakh, saying even that Union Territory had not been promised statehood yet its people are protesting over their perceived betrayal.
Taking to micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) the chief minister Omar Abdullah said: “Ladakh wasn’t even promised statehood, they celebrated UT status in 2019 and they feel betrayed and angry. Now try to imagine how betrayed and 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 and responsibly,” he said.
Omar Abdullah’s statement comes at a time when violence in Ladakh has intensified, with protests demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the situation in Ladakh has made it imperative that the Centre move beyond day-to-day crisis management and address the root cause of the problems.
“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 said in a post on X commenting on a video from Leh.
The PDP chief said Leh, a region long known for its peaceful and measured protests, is now witnessing a disturbing shift toward violent demonstrations.
“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 added.
