‘Protests engineered deliberately’

New Delhi, Sep 24: The situation in Ladakh did not spiral on its own and was “engineered deliberately”, official sources said.

They said that Ladakh and its youth were paying a heavy price for the narrow politics played by certain individuals and the personal ambitions of a prominent environmentalist.

“The Center had already fixed October 6 for the meeting of the High-Powered Committee to discuss all issues posed by Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA),” the sources said.

They said that the Centre had also agreed on the new members for HPC as proposed by ABL.

“Upon receiving a request for preponement, some meetings were being considered on September 25 and 26,” the sources said.

They said that the Centre had always been ready for talks, and on an earlier occasion, talks were proposed on July 25, which did not receive a positive response.

“But even though talks are lined up with an open mind, violence was provoked,” the sources said. “Why?”

They said that the prominent environmentalist had long hinted at wanting an “Arab Spring-style protest” in Ladakh.

“His references to Gen-Z protests in Nepal now seem like a blueprint,” the sources said. “He used the platform for his personal issues to hide certain irregularities that are coming to light now?”

They said that the Congress leaders made statements that almost sounded like instructions, talk of pelting stones, bandhs, and arson.

“Why were they so ready? The entire episode smacks of conspiracy motivated by politics and personal gains.  The youth are not to be blamed. They were misled, caught up in a sinister plot for political and personal gains,” the sources said.

They said that the Centre is committed to the welfare and empowerment of Ladakhi people and stands with the youth.