Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Nov 26: Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) today took out a mega peace rally to press the Central Government to give Union Territory (UT) status with legislative power to Ladakh.
The rally began from Chowkhang Vihara and culminated at historical Polo Ground. During the rally, all business establishments were closed voluntarily by the owners to support LBA’s demand for Union Territory status to Ladakh.
LBA CWC, Nambardars, Tsogspa and general public participated in the rally. Chief Executive Councillors Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Executive Councillors, Councillors, former CEC Rigzin Spalbar, Deldan Namgayal, ex-MLA and Congress president Tsering Namgyal also joined the rally.
The demands of LBA also included inclusion of Bhoti language in 8th scheduled of Indian constitution, opening of full-fledged university, establishment of Police range in Ladakh and Special Tribal Law to protect the interest of locals.
LBA president, Tsewang Thinles, while addressing the gathering at Polo Ground said, “UT is a long pending demand of Ladakhis who have been demanding this for more than 60 years. We are ready to talk and debate over UT issue with Kargil district to make the people understand about UT but if Kargil is not interested we can continue our demands by including Zanskar and Bodh Kharbu region.”
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Thinles said LBA is non-political organization but for UT status LBA will surely interfere to bring all political leaders on common platform. He said that leaders in Kashmir cannot decide the fate of Ladakhis while sitting in Kashmir and Centre must involve and talk with Ladakhis to know their demands.
“We don’t want Divisional status, we don’t demand Zojila tunnel to connect with Kashmir, we were forcefully kept under Kashmir rule, so we demand UT to stay with Central Government,” said Thinles adding that Centre Government is pumping all the funds into Kashmir to please Kashmiris without any gain.
Ladakh Gonpa Association president Shatup Chamba, LBA vice president Rinchen Namgyal, LBA youth president Konchok Ishey Stak and LBA women wing president Rinchen Angmo also spoke on the occasion.
Later, the LBA leaders submitted a memorandum of their demands to Deputy Commissioner Avny Lavasa addressed to Governor Satya Pal Malik.
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