Blaming me for instigating Ladakh protest is a ‘scapegoat tactic’: Sonam Wangchuk

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday termed the home ministryrsquos allegation that he instigated the recent violence during the Ladakh protest a ldquoscapegoat tacticrdquo to avoid addressing the core issues of the Himalayan region news agency PTI reportedReacting to the MHArsquos statement which accused him of provoking the mob violence Wangchuk said he was prepared to be arrested under the stringent Public Safety Act PSAldquoTo say it was instigated by me or sometimes by Congress is to find a scapegoat rather than addressing the core of the problem and this will lead us nowhere They may be clever in making somebody else a scapegoat but they are not wise At this time we all need wisdom rather than lsquoclevernessrsquo because youths are already frustratedrdquo Wangchuk told PTI over the phoneThe activist who has been leading a peaceful agitation for statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh also raised concerns about his own safetyldquoI see they are building up a case to bring me under the Public Safety Act and throw me in jail for two yearsrdquo he said adding ldquoI am ready for that but Sonam Wangchuk in jail may cause them more problems than free Sonam WangchukrdquoThe statehood movement led by Wangchuk turned violent in Leh on Wednesday resulting in four deaths and at least 80 injuries including 40 police personnel officials said It was described as the worst day of violence in the cold desert region since 1989Wangchuk attributed the anger to longstanding grievances particularly frustration among the youth He said the real cause lay in the ldquofrustration of six years of unemployment and unmet promises at every levelrdquoAccusing the government of misleading people by touting partial job reservations as success he noted that the key demands of statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to safeguard Ladakhrsquos tribal identity and fragile environment remain ldquountouched after five years of peaceful appealsrdquoHe said that by employing the ldquoscapegoat tacticrdquo the government was ldquonot actually taking measures for peacerdquo but instead ldquofurther aggravatingrdquo the situation by diverting attention from the peoplersquos core demands PTI reportedAs violence spread Wangchuk called off his fortnightlong hunger strike pressing for statehood and the Sixth Schedule while authorities imposed curfew in Leh districtEarlier in the day during the Ladakh protest groups of youths resorted to arson and vandalism targeting the BJP office and the Hill Council headquarters and setting vehicles on fire Police and paramilitary personnel used teargas shells to disperse the mobs officials saidIn a statement the Union home ministry said Wangchuk had begun his hunger strike on September 10 to press the demand for Ladakhrsquos inclusion in the Sixth Schedule and statehood It alleged that the mob violence was fuelled by ldquoprovocative statementsrdquo from Wangchuk and some ldquopolitically motivatedrdquo individuals unhappy with the progress of ongoing talks between the government and Ladakhi groupsThe ministry said that barring ldquoa few unfortunate incidentsrdquo early on Wednesday the situation was under control by 4 pm It also urged people not to circulate old or provocative videos on media and social medialdquoIt is well known that the Government of India has been actively engaged with the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance Series of meetings were held with them through formal channel of High Powered Committee HPC as well as subcommittee and multiple informal meetings with leadersrdquo the statement saidldquoHowever certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made under HPC and have been trying to sabotage the dialogue processrdquo it addedThe next HPC meeting has been scheduled for October 6 while other meetings are planned on September 25 and 26 with Ladakhi leadersCalling the violence ldquoheartwrenchingrdquo Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta said ldquoEveryone has the right to speak up in a peaceful manner in a democratic system but what happened today was not spontaneous and was the result of a conspiracy We will not spare those people who have spoiled the atmosphere hererdquoCurfew has been imposed in Leh as a precautionary measure to prevent further casualties officials saidWith PTI inputs