Rahul Gandhi Blames BJP-RSS For Leh Violence, Demands 6th Schedule For Ladakh

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday reacted strongly to the recent violence in Leh that left four young men dead, extending his support to Ladakh's demand for special rights under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha accused the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, of undermining the region's people and culture.
"Ladakhis asked for a voice. The BJP responded by killing 4 young men and jailing Sonam Wangchuk. Stop the killing. Stop the violence. Stop the intimidation. Give Ladakh a voice. Give them the 6th Schedule," Gandhi wrote.

The Sixth Schedule provides special rights and protections for tribal areas and is currently applicable in several northeastern states. Since Ladakh lost its land protections following the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019, residents have been demanding similar safeguards. While protests had remained largely peaceful, they turned violent on Wednesday, September 24, during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB).

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, a leading voice behind these demands, was arrested on Friday and shifted to Rajasthan's Jodhpur jail. Authorities have detained nearly 50 people for alleged involvement in rioting. Wangchuk, however, condemned the violence and ended his hunger strike in protest.

The Centre accused Wangchuk of inciting unrest through speeches referencing youth-led protests in Nepal and Bangladesh. His wife, however, claimed that the violence was triggered by security forces, alleging that paramilitary personnel fired teargas shells into a peaceful crowd.

A curfew has been in place in Leh for five consecutive days. On Saturday, restrictions were relaxed for four hours, while Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta is scheduled to chair a security review meeting to decide on further relaxations.

Officials confirmed that tensions remain high as talks continue between the Leh Apex Body and the Centre over the demand for statehood and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.