Stop the killing, give Ladakh a voice & 6th Schedule; Rahul jibes BJP-RSS

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday trained his guns at the Narendra Modi-led Central government over the situation in Ladakh after four people died in the protest saying that its people, culture and traditions are under attack by the BJP-RSS and demanded to give Ladakh a voice and sixth schedule.

Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, said, "Ladakh’s amazing people, culture, and traditions are under attack by the BJP and RSS."

Blaming the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, for the violence, the Congress leader said: "Ladakhis asked for a voice. The BJP responded by killing four young men and jailing Sonam Wangchuk."

He demanded to 'stop the killing. stop the violence and stop the intimidation'.

"Give Ladakh a voice. Give them the 6th Schedule," he added.

The remarks from the Congress leader came after four people died during a protest in Ladakh earlier this week and a day after ally Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party questioned his silence on arrest of the climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also slammed the central government over the handling of situatuon in Ladakh and arrest of Wangchuk under NSA.

In a post on X, Kharge had said, "The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the pathetic handling of the situation in Ladakh by the Government & subsequent arrest of Sonam Wangchuk under the draconian National Security Act."

Targeting the BJP, the Congress leader said, "At the heart of the crisis lies the BJP’s persistent betrayal of the aspirations of people of Ladakh. For over a year now, there has been turmoil and instead of lending a patient hearing to the cries of the people for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, Modi Government is responding with violence."

"The BJP had pledged Sixth Schedule status for the region, sadly that promise has been squarely abandoned. The Indian National Congress seeks nothing but peace in Ladakh. For decades, we have ensured that this beautiful border region remains harmonious and secure, upholding both the spirit of Democracy and the cause of National Security.

"We demand a judicial investigation into the deaths of four innocent young men and the serious injuries inflicted upon many others. The democratic institutions and democracy need to be revived and restored in Ladakh," Kharge added.

Wangchuk was arrested on Friday, two days after the violence during protest demanding statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule, under the National Security Act (NSA) on Friday and lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.

On Wednesday, four people were killed in police firing and scores of others were injured when a protest for statehood for Ladakh turned violent. Protesters set a local BJP office on fire and allegedly pelted police and CRPF with stones.

Meanwhile, authorities allowed a four-hour relaxation in curfew on Saturday in violence-hit Leh in Ladakh, the first easing of restrictions after three days, while an uneasy calm prevailed in the region with authorities stepping up security in the region.