Omar Abdullah: Leh Unrest an Eye-Opener on Betrayal of Promises
From Peace to Protest: Ladakh’s Unrest Highlights Deepening Discontent Over Statehood
Srinagar, Sep 24: The violent turn of events in Leh has triggered sharp political reactions in Jammu and Kashmir, with leaders warning that the unrest should serve as a wake-up call for New Delhi. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the developments must be seen as an eye-opener, reflecting the deep sense of betrayal that people feel over the denial of statehood. Reacting to the violence, which left four people dead and over 45 injured, including 22 police personnel, he pointed out that while Ladakh was never promised statehood and had celebrated Union Territory status in 2019, people there now feel angry and let down. “If Ladakh, which was not even promised statehood, feels so betrayed, imagine how the people of J&K feel, where statehood was promised but remains unfulfilled despite peaceful and democratic demands,” Omar posted on X.
Echoing similar concerns, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the situation in Ladakh underlines the urgent need for the Centre to go beyond crisis management and address the root causes of growing discontent. She stressed that what makes this unrest more striking is that it did not erupt in the Kashmir Valley, long seen as the epicentre of political turbulence, but in Leh, a region historically known for peaceful demonstrations. “This should ring alarm bells. People there, too, now feel betrayed, insecure and let down by unfulfilled promises,” Mehbooba wrote.
She warned that patience is wearing thin across the region, with trust in government assurances steadily eroding. The PDP leader emphasized that the government must urgently undertake a sincere appraisal of what has truly changed since 2019 and deal with the underlying issues in a transparent manner. Both leaders cautioned that unless meaningful political steps are taken especially regarding the restoration of J&K’s statehood, the cycle of disillusionment and unrest may deepen further, carrying wider implications for peace and stability in the Union Territory.
