Ladakh Bloodshed Exposes Modi Government’s Betrayal

Yasmin Farooqui, National General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India strongly condemns the Modi administration’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protests in Ladakh, which has tragically escalated into violence, leaving at least four people dead and more than 70 injured, including protesters and police personnel. This bloodshed in the Himalayan region exposes the government’s complete failure to address legitimate demands for statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, job reservations, and protection of land and cultural identity—issues that have festered since the arbitrary bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

The Modi regime’s betrayal is stark. Promises of prosperity following the revocation of Article 370 have instead resulted in neglect, rising unemployment, and environmental degradation in this strategically vital border region. Rather than pursuing meaningful dialogue through the High-Powered Committee, the administration has responded with teargas, curfews, and baseless accusations against activists such as Sonam Wangchuk, who was forced to end his 15-day hunger strike amid this crisis. This is not governance; it is authoritarianism, consistent with the regime’s record of suppressing dissent—from farmers’ protests to the persecution of minorities.

The SDPI stands firmly in solidarity with the people of Ladakh in their struggle for federal justice. The government’s misuse of investigative agencies and divisive politics, reflected in measures such as the Waqf Amendment Bill and cow vigilantism, only serve to further marginalize vulnerable communities across India.

We call upon Prime Minister Modi to immediately convene talks, restore statehood, and end this cycle of repression. Continued denial of justice will only deepen India’s democratic crisis.