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BJP accuses Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag of inciting Ladakh statehood protests that left four dead and 45 injured.
Police personnel control a violent protest over the statehood demand in Ladakh. (PTI)
Ladakh protests: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accused a Congress councillor of inciting and instigating violence during protests demanding statehood in Ladakh. The protests, which saw the BJP office and vehicles set ablaze, claimed at least four lives and left 45 others injured, including 22 police personnel.
BJP’s Allegations
While addressing a press conference in the national capital, BJP MP Sambit Patra said that attempts were made to “portray” that protests were being led by the youth. He further claimed that when investigated, it was found that these protests were ignited by Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, whose numerous photos have surfaced on social media platforms.
“He is the main instigator, and numerous photos have surfaced of him and his workers instigating the violence. He can also be seen marching towards the BJP office with a weapon in his hand. He is instigating the mob and targeting the BJP office… A video of this has also surfaced, and the BJP has also posted it. Councillor Stanzin Tsepang is with Rahul Gandhi (in a photograph),” he said as quoted by news agency ANI.
The BJP leader further traded guns at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “repeatedly instigating” situations similar to what had happened in Nepal and Bangladesh. He claimed that Rahul Gandhi, in collaboration with George Soros, is working to “break” the country.
“Congress has nefarious designs. ’Bharat tere tukde honge Inshallah, Inshallah’ is Congress’s main line… This is Rahul Gandhi’s plan with George Soros, since they cannot win through the people, so we are working to break the country,” he added.
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya also echoed similar allegations and asked whether 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 the Congress councillor on his X handle.
Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag was also booked for allegedly making a provocative speech at the hunger strike venue on Tuesday.
Sonam Wangchuk’s Response
Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk dismissed these allegations and said that he doesn’t believe the Congress holds such influence over Ladakh youths to mobilise them for protests.
“Congress doesn’t have such influence here that it can manage to get 5000 youth on the roads,” he said in a press conference.
Wangchuk added that the councillor did deliver a remark in anger because the two people who were hospitalised yesterday belonged to his village, but believed that Congress does not have enough hold to influence the youth.
“A Congress councillor yesterday reached a hospital in anger because two people from his village were hospitalised, but Congress does not have such influence,” he said.
Ladakh Unrest
Four people were killed and at least 45 injured, including 22 police personnel, as the protests demanding statehood for Ladakh turned violent on Wednesday.
Amid large-scale violence, arson, and street clashes, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk called off his fortnight-long hunger strike to press for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
The BJP office was vandalised and set on fire as were several vehicles. Flames and clouds of smoke could be seen from afar with police resorting to firing and teargas shelling to bring the situation under control.
(With inputs from agencies)
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
Leh, India, India
September 25, 2025, 02:49 IST
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