Award-winning environmentalist and activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said the violence in Ladakh was fuelled by the BJP’s “U-turns” on promises the party had made in 2020 as well as years of joblessness among local youth. Speaking to India Today TV hours after protests spiralled into arson and clashes with security forces, Wangchuk described it as “one of the saddest days” of his life.

Wangchuk said the unrest was an “organic outburst” of frustrated young people demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.

“For the last five years, we have maintained utmost peace and always peaceful approaches following Mahatma Gandhi's path... But today was something totally unexpected, out of the blue, very organic, when youth came out and went on a rampage,” he said.

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