NEW DELHI: The Union government on Wednesday said activist Sonam Wangchuk was responsible for the ongoing violence in Ladakh.
“It is clear that mob violence in Ladakh was guided by activist Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements,” the government said in a statement.
The Centre said Wangchuk's hunger strike continued despite ongoing talks through a High-Powered Committee that had delivered key concessions.
"The demands on which Mr Wangchuk was on hunger strike are integral part of the discussion in HPC. In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike, he continued with the hanger strike and misled the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal."
It further alleged that his provocative speeches incited a mob on 24 September, injuring over 30 security personnel and forcing police to fire, which caused casualties. The government said it remained committed to Ladakh’s aspirations.
The statement came after Wangchuk defended Congress against Amit Malviya’s charge that the party was behind the violence in Ladakh. Wangchuk said, “Congress doesn’t have that kind of influence here to get 5,000 youth out on the roads. Yesterday, a Congress councillor went to a hospital in anger because two people from his village were brought there injured.”
In a post on X, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya asked whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wanted this kind of unrest in Ladakh. "This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward. He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council. Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been fantasising about?" Malviya said while sharing the photos and videos of Congress councillor.
Wangchuk called off his 15-day hunger strike on Wednesday after the demonstrations demanding statehood for Ladakh turned violent.
Protest in the Union Territory is gathering pace demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh which was carved out from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. At least four people died and 20 injured after the demonstrations turned deadly.
“It is clear that mob violence in Ladakh was guided by activist Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements,” the government said in a statement.
The Centre said Wangchuk's hunger strike continued despite ongoing talks through a High-Powered Committee that had delivered key concessions.
"The demands on which Mr Wangchuk was on hunger strike are integral part of the discussion in HPC. In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike, he continued with the hanger strike and misled the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal."
It further alleged that his provocative speeches incited a mob on 24 September, injuring over 30 security personnel and forcing police to fire, which caused casualties. The government said it remained committed to Ladakh’s aspirations.
Ministry of Home Affairs releases a press note on Leh protest, it reads, "A hunger strike was started by Sh Sonam Wangchuk on 10-09-2025 stating the demand of 6th schedule and statehood for Ladakh. It is well known that Government of India has been actively engaged with Apex Body… pic.twitter.com/90OPe85sLy
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 24, 2025
The statement came after Wangchuk defended Congress against Amit Malviya’s charge that the party was behind the violence in Ladakh. Wangchuk said, “Congress doesn’t have that kind of influence here to get 5,000 youth out on the roads. Yesterday, a Congress councillor went to a hospital in anger because two people from his village were brought there injured.”
In a post on X, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya asked whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wanted this kind of unrest in Ladakh. "This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward. He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council. Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been fantasising about?" Malviya said while sharing the photos and videos of Congress councillor.
Wangchuk called off his 15-day hunger strike on Wednesday after the demonstrations demanding statehood for Ladakh turned violent.
Protest in the Union Territory is gathering pace demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh which was carved out from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. At least four people died and 20 injured after the demonstrations turned deadly.
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