NEW DELHI: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said the Centre should hold talks with the people of Ladakh to address their aspirations, and expressed concerns over the future of children. While talking with reporters, Abdullah warned that if a void is left in the border state, someone else (China) will try to fill it, PTI reported.”I want to tell the government that it (Ladakh) is a border state. China is lurking, they have occupied land. It is time to resolve it quickly. The government should hold talks and resolve it,” Abdullah told reporters here.Four people were killed and at least 80 injured during day-long clashes on Wednesday in Ladakh, triggered by a shutdown organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which supports an agitation for statehood. Former chief minister Abdullah addressed reporters in the region, asserting that Ladakh is a border state threatened by China’s presence. When questioned about the govt’s allegation that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was responsible for the violence, Abdullah stated that Wangchuk was not involved. “He (Wangchuk) has never left the Gandhian way. The youth have sidelined him today. He is not responsible for it. When they (BJP) lost elections, they imposed safety law and put people in jails. Now they are using CBI. More they use force to suppress, the bigger the danger. I want to tell the govt of India not to use force and instead hold dialogue,” he added. Abdullah dismissed claims of external forces inciting trouble in Ladakh. “There is no external hand. It is the voice of the people,” he said. He noted that for the past five years, Ladakhis have been quietly protesting for sixth schedule and statehood. “Their leader walked from Leh to Delhi to press for the demands. He adopted Gandhian way, not agitation. But the youth felt that the promises were hollow. The result was that they could not bear it any more,” he stated. The former CM called on the Centre to learn from the Ladakh situation and honour its promises regarding Jammu and Kashmir. “Statehood was promised to Jammu and Kashmir but where is it? They should learn a lesson. Where are the promises you made with us? Where are the jobs? People from outside are being imposed,” he said. When asked if his party supported the violent agitation in Ladakh, Abdullah affirmed that the National Conference adheres to the Gandhian way. “We gave sacrifices but never took to violence. However, what the youth do in future, I cannot say that for sure,” he said. In response to BJP blaming Congress for the Ladakh violence, Abdullah described it as an attempt to deflect responsibility. “BJP has been ruling since 2019. Where did the Congress come from? They (BJP) always try to deflect. Congress cannot gather 10 persons,” he said. Abdullah held Central govt leaders accountable for the situation in Ladakh. “Hold talks, don’t talk about holding talks …The leaders in Delhi are responsible for what is happening. They kept them busy with talks without anything substantial. They (youth) are feeling let down. The govt should move now faster and resolve the issue,” he added. He warned that leaving a void in the Ladakh region could allow others to fill it. “Somebody will fill the gap. It is a very sensitive area. They (China) are craving for Ladakh. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had gone to China. Why did he go there? To improve relations,” Abdullah said. Commenting on international relations, Abdullah stated that the United States was blaming India for Russia’s war on Ukraine. “America is coming after us for buying Russian oil. President Trump accused us of supporting war on Ukraine but the truth is we have not supported it,” he said. Reacting to the govt’s assertion that no land has been occupied by China in Ladakh, Abdullah asserted that the world is aware of China’s land acquisitions. “We cannot even patrol our land. How long we will live in a world of lies?” he charged.
