Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi with “deceit and betrayal” of the people of Ladakh by creating the Union Territory without fulfilling any promises made to them.

“People of Ladakh are unitedly demanding statehood for the Union Territory, and safeguards for the tribal people of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. But your Govt has deceitfully betrayed them, despite making tall promises,” Kharge tweeted.

He added: “Modi Govt’s greed to benefit select crony friends who want to exploit the eco-sensitive Himalayan glaciers of Ladakh is well-known. In denying Constitutional protection, you are also endangering India’s National Security, in a strategic border region. Listen to Ladakh!”

Over the past few months, Ladakh has witnessed massive public protests demanding statehood, constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the formation of Public Service Commission, reservation of jobs for youths of Ladakh and the creation of two separate parliamentary constituencies for Leh and Kargil.

The protesters insist that the Modi government fooled them in the name of Union Territory as even the existing powers available to the local bodies have been snatched.

After demonstrations in Ladakh and Jammu, the protesters plan to come to Delhi next month. The groups leading the protests have threatened to initiate block- and district-level demonstrations and a general strike if their demands are not met, besides starting an agitation in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar by the third week of February.

The protesters have widespread support from the people and almost all political parties except the BJP. They have also rejected the Centre’s offer to constitute a high-powered committee to resolve their issues, saying that their key demands have not been included in the committee’s mandate.