Nations do not fall because of foreign conquest alone — they crumble from within when the bonds of unity snap under the weight of discontent and mistrust. The Centre must take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation. Sonam Wangchuk must be released, and dialogue held with him and other political players.

Nations do not fall because of foreign conquest alone — they crumble from within when the bonds of unity snap under the weight of discontent and mistrust. It’s tragic how often national governments, motivated by political interests and the magnetic attraction to votes, neglect vital threads that tie a nation together. India is currently facing many of the above challenges. An overtly majoritarian agenda has begun to affect the confidence of minorities. In Manipur, tribal communities who have lived together for centuries have turned against one another because of partisanship and inept governance. The tragedy of Kashmir will long be remembered. Many parts of south India look askance with distrust at what they think is the dominance of the north.

Read more here: Najeeb Jung writes: In government’s actions in Ladakh, a cautionary tale | The Indian Express