The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed the Congress party for the unrest. BJP spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra said the violence was not a youth movement but a Congress-led conspiracy.
Four people died, and over 80 were injured after violent clashes broke out in Leh, Ladakh, on Wednesday. The protests were over the demand for statehood and Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The clashes turned violent as protesters threw stones, set fire to vehicles, and attacked the BJP office, and police responded with tear gas, batons, and bullets. Among the injured were 40 police officers.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed the Congress party for the unrest. BJP spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra said the violence was not a youth movement but a Congress-led conspiracy.
"Today in Ladakh, an attempt was made to portray some protests as being led by 'Gen Z' but when an investigation was carried out, it was found that this was not a Gen Z protest but actually a Congress protest," Patra said at a press conference in New Delhi.
Patra alleged that Stanzin Tsepang, a Congress councillor from Upper Leh ward, was the main instigator. He claimed videos and photos show Tsepang leading mobs, carrying weapons, and targeting the BJP office.
"Stanzin Tsepang is with Rahul Gandhi," Patra added. He accused the Congress of trying to create conditions similar to Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Philippines.
Patra went further to say the unrest was part of Congress’s “nefarious design.” "The Congress has a nefarious design. It's Congress's conspiracy. 'Bharat tere tukde honge Inshallah, Inshallah' is the Congress's main line… This is Rahul Gandhi's plan with George Soros," Patra alleged.
He accused Rahul Gandhi of inciting youth and attempting to destabilise India. "Rahul Gandhi repeatedly incites youth to create conditions like those that occurred in Bangladesh and Nepal, and are happening now in the Philippines," Patra said.
The Ladakh administration has already taken action. Police registered an FIR and named Congress councillor Stanzin Tsepang for his alleged role in the violence and arson.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also posted a photo of Tsepang on X, claiming he was clearly seen instigating the mob and attacking the BJP office.
Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta said the violence was a conspiracy. He assured that strict action would be taken against those involved. The violent protests, he said, were not spontaneous but planned.
However, Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk dismissed the BJP’s allegations against the Congress. He said the party does not have enough influence in Ladakh to mobilise thousands of youth.
"The Congress doesn't have such influence here that it can manage to get 5,000 youth on the roads," Wangchuk said at a press conference.
He admitted that the councillor may have reacted in anger after two people from his village were hospitalised. But he said this alone could not explain the mass protests.
Wangchuk said the deeper reason for the violence was the growing frustration among Ladakh’s youth. For five years, they had been holding peaceful protests demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. However, no results came from these protests.
"The Gen Z, who took to the streets, we had not even seen them at the protest. This was a general complaint here that the youths are not participating in the protest," Wangchuk explained.
He said 2,000 to 5,000 young people suddenly joined the demonstrations on Wednesday after prayers. This mass turnout created chaos and violence.
Wangchuk had been on a 15-day hunger strike over Ladakh’s statehood demand. He ended his strike after the clashes in Leh turned violent.
Expressing sadness, he said the trigger for the protests was the hospitalisation of two villagers on Tuesday. But he insisted the underlying cause was long-standing frustration with unfulfilled promises.
Since the abrogation of Article 370, there has been a growing demand for Ladakh to be granted statehood and constitutional protection under the Sixth Schedule.
The violence in Leh highlights the seriousness of the demand and the rising anger among youth. With the BJP and Congress trading charges, the matter has now taken a political turn.
The coming days will show whether the central government and local leaders can calm the situation or if the unrest will continue.
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