Delegation from Ladakh calls for UT status
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 26: Strongly advocating for construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sarkarivah (national general secretary), Bhaiya Ji Joshi today said that Lord Ram is the matter of faith for millions of Hindus across the globe.
Addressing a religious function at famous shrine of Purmandal in Samba district today, the RSS senior leader said that Ram Mandir should be constructed at Ayodhya in UP because Lord Ram was born there and it is matter of Hindu faith as aspirations of crores of Hindus are linked to it.
The function was organised by Purmandal Sewa Niyas and a large number of people attended it.
He said as the faith of people is linked to religious shrine of Purmandal and Utterbehni likewise the faith of crores of Hindus is also linked to Ram temple where Lord Rama was born and they want that the temple should be constructed there.
Joshi said that India is a land of sages and saints, who worshiped at these religious places to attain spirituality and it is our duty to preserve these shrines for posterity. He said there are no contradictions in the Hindu Samaj on the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and it will be constructed there.
Maintaining that entire Hindu Samaj is one, he said this feeling keeps country and its people secure. Till Hindus are united no power on earth can harm the country and them, he added Stressing on protection of environment, he said since the Vedic and Puranic periods, Hindus have been worshiping rivers, streams, springs, trees, forests and there is great philosophy linked to it. The essence of protecting them was must for human survival and prosperity on the globe, he added.
The RSS national leader also stressed on respecting women folk saying that “as per Hindu tradition we have been worshiping five mothers including mother Earth, Ganga Mata, Gow Mata (Cow), universe as a whole and women”. He asked the gathering present to take a solemn pledge to respect them henceforth as per Hindu tradition and culture.
Maintaining that a woman has highest place in Hindu philosophy, he said “if we respect her as mother the atrocities on women folk will automatically vanish”. He said respecting these five mothers also will automatically rid the society from crime.
On the issue of cow slaughter and concern shown by the people over it, he said “going by the Puranic relevance of the cow, Hindus have been worshiping her from times immemorial and if we will not sell her no body will slaughter her. We should not sell cow to save them from slaughter”, he added.
He, while referring to Purmandal religious shrine, said it has a lot of religious significance as lakhs of pilgrims visit this shrine whose faith is linked to it and on every Amawasiya of the month, thousands pay obeisance at this shrine.
On the occasion, Joshi also released a book on Purmandal, Utterbeni shrines. The people of the area on the occasion honoured the RSS leader.
The RSS Prant Pracharak J&K, Rupesh, Prant Sangh Chalak Brig (retd) Suchet Singh, Prant Karivah, Avtar Krishan and other office bearers of Sangh were present.
Earlier in the morning, RSS leader held a meeting with the representatives from Ladakh and Kashmir and discussed various issues concerning the State and their regions with them.
The delegation from Ladakh informed the Sangh leader about the problems being faced by the people in the Himalayan region especially with the intrusion from China’s side.
They said that nomads living near LAC faced threat from the people and army across the LAC.
They said that with the help and support of Chinese Army, the people across the LAC intrude into Indian territory and push the nomads residing there back. Most of them have left the forward areas and migrated to Leh for eking out their living there.
This is dangerous trend and needs to be contained immediately. Otherwise entire border belt of Ladakh will be emptied and the nation would have to pay a heavy price for the same, they added.
They demanded that the people near LAC be provided all facilities like construction of roads, communication facilities, education and health care facilities, setting up of a Pashmina Processing Plant etc to boost their economy.
They also demanded that on the pattern of Sindhu Darshan a yatra to Chota Kailash in Ladakh be also started which is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. This will help in income generation to local people also, they added.
The representatives of Ladakh also put up the demand for granting of UT status to the region for its development and progress. They said though the region has 49400 square Km area its population is only four lakh and under the present status of the State people from outside J&K can’t settle there despite the fact that vast area of land is lying vacant in the region. For the settlement of the people from other states, UT status is must for Ladakh besides it will also pave way for proper development of the region, they added.
The representatives from the region while expressing concern over threat to demography of Ladakh with the settlement of outsiders there said that this issue should be dealt on war footing basis to maintain the age old culture of the region.
They also demanded construction of hostel for students of Ladakh at Jammu and Chandigarh so that the students from the region studying there don’t face problems.
The delegation included CEC, LAHDC, Leh Jamyang Cherign Namgyal, MLC and former Minister, Cherign Dorjey, Vijay Chhelingpa, RSS Karivah Ladakh and Bhagwan Ji, another Karivah for Ladakh Vibagh.
The RSS leader took note of the all issues and concerns shown by people from the region.
A delegation of Kashmir also called on him and discussed prevailing situation in the Valley with reference to Hindu Shrines and religious places and stressed on their protection.
The issue of opening Sharda shrine for pilgrimage, problems faced by package employees in Valley and constant delay in implementation of employment package also figured in the meeting with RSS leader. Avtar Krishan Karivah, Ajay Bharti MLC and other Sangh activists from Kashmir attended the meeting.
Before leaving for New Delhi in the evening, the RSS leader held a meeting with prominent citizens of Jammu at Keshaw Bhawan Ambphalla and discussed various issues concerning the State with them also.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
