Rahul Gandhi Backs Ladakh Sixth Schedule Demand After Violent Protests

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the recent violent protests in Leh that resulted in four deaths, backing Ladakh’s demand for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The Leader of Opposition accused the BJP and RSS of attacking Ladakh’s people and culture, demanding immediate action to address their grievances.

Violence Erupts Over Constitutional Protections

The protests, which had been largely peaceful since 2019, turned violent on September 24 when demonstrators demanded special rights and protections for tribal areas. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, the main face of the movement, was arrested and jailed in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur along with 50 others for alleged involvement in rioting. Wangchuk had previously condemned the violence and ended his hunger strike in disgust.

The Sixth Schedule provides special rights and powers to tribal areas, currently enforced in some northeastern states. Ladakhis have been seeking these protections since losing land rights when Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories in 2019.

India Rejects Turkey’s Kashmir Intervention

Meanwhile, India strongly rejected Turkish President Erdogan’s remarks on Kashmir during the UN General Assembly, calling them “objectionable” and “unwarranted.” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that Kashmir remains a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, requiring no third-party mediation.

Jaiswal criticized Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism policy, stating it poses the biggest threat to Jammu and Kashmir’s people. India lodged a strong protest with the Turkish ambassador over statements affecting India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, reaffirming its unchanged position on the Kashmir issue.