Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly criticized the BJP’s tendency to shift blame for failures, particularly in the context of the recent violence in Leh. He asserted that the BJP government in Ladakh, being the ruling party, should address its own shortcomings in maintaining peace rather than pointing fingers at the Congress.
Abdullah highlighted that the violence, which resulted in four deaths and significant damage, including the torching of the BJP office and several vehicles, erupted during protests led by activist Sonam Wangchuk. These protests were demanding statehood for Ladakh and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Responding to accusations from the BJP that the Congress was instigating the violence, Abdullah retorted, “Had the Congress been so powerful that it could cause riots in Ladakh, why didn’t the party form the council (in October 2020)? Who won the last council elections in Ladakh? The BJP, while the Congress lost badly. When things go wrong, the BJP people always come up with excuses.”
He emphasized that the administration, led by Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta (a BJP leader), was primarily responsible for the breakdown in law and order. Abdullah stated, “When such things happen, it is the administration which is the first to fail. The administration should see why it failed. Blaming someone else will not help.”
While appealing for peace and urging people not to resort to violence, Abdullah also called upon the Indian government to address the legitimate demands of the people in Ladakh and foster brotherhood between Kargil and Leh.