Cutting across party lines, lawmakers are fuming. Notwithstanding the fact that BJP is part of the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP MP from Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang feels “ashamed” that not enough necessary action was taken in the case. “It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure that justice is met with the victim. I don’t care which political party is ruling the state, whether BJP, Congress, PDP or NC. Such incidents shouldn’t happen with any girl student; a Ladakhi girl studies outside her region because of non-availability of higher education institutions in Ladakh. I get a sense the case was not taken seriously because the victim belongs to this region. Had the same incident happened in Kashmir, the valley would have been on fire. Our region means nothing to others. This is the reason why we have been demanding a separate union territory for Ladakh so that we have our colleges, universities and hospitals, otherwise all the infrastructure facilities are extended to Jammu and the Valley.”