Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns today over the status granted to Ladakh, stating that the local population is discontented and seeking better representation. Speaking to reporters, Gandhi highlighted the widespread sentiment among Ladakhis who feel dissatisfied with their current status.
“There were so many complaints. The people are not happy with the status given to them, they want representation. Everyone is saying that there is unemployment and inflation,” Gandhi stated.
Gandhi further emphasized that the local populace aspires for a more participatory form of governance, voicing the collective sentiment that the administration of the region should be steered by the voice of the people rather than solely by bureaucracy.
“People want bureaucracy shouldn’t run the state, but it should be run by the voice of people,” he added.
One of the key concerns raised by the people of Ladakh pertains to the encroachment upon their traditional grazing lands by China. Gandhi highlighted the significant impact this has had on the local population, as their livelihoods are deeply intertwined with the use of these lands.
“The concern, of course, is the land taken away by China. People here are affected in a big way because their grazing land has been taken away. Everyone is saying that Chinese troops have intruded and taken away their grazing land, and they cannot go there,” Gandhi explained.
Gandhi’s statements also contradicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that China has not encroached upon any Indian territory. Gandhi labeled the Prime Minister’s claim as untrue, shedding light on the disconnect between official narratives and the realities faced by the people on the ground.
The Chenab Times News Desk