| News Details |
| Massive public support for UT demand, thousands join rally to express solidarity with issue | | remind authorities of decades old petition | 
Leh(Ladakh), March 14, (Scoop News)-Demanding Union Territory (UT) status from the Central Government for the region, thousands of local people took out a peaceful rally from Indra Chowk in the town, meandered through various streets and finally culminated at the historic Polo Ground.
Led by Tsewang Thinlis, the marchers who raised slogans like Ki Ki So So…..Lahargylo and carried placards mentioning ‘One Voice, One Demand- UT, ‘Free Ladakh from Kashmir’.
Addressing a huge gathering, the speakers said that Ladakh is culturally, linguistically, ethnically and geographically entirely different from any part of the country and the region remains cut off from rest the world for six to eight months in a year.
“So Ladakh be declared a UT with separate legislature,” the speakers declared and said that the strategic significance of the region can never be ignored for any more time and forcing it to remain a part of Jammu and Kashmir shall result into the total alienation of the people of Ladakh particularly in Leh district.
Those who addressed the rally included Tswang Thinlis, president Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) vice president LBA, PT Kunzang, Ashraf Ali Barcha, president Anjuman e Immamia, Dechan Changa, president, Christian Community- Leh and All Ladakh Gonpa Association- Leh, president, Shatup Chamba.
Thinslis informed the gathering that notwithstanding the strategic importance of the region, the successive Kashmir centric governments have always sidelined the people of Ladakh. He insisted that no decision on Kashmir should be taken without taking Ladakhis into confidence.
He said a committee would be constituted soon to talk with the leaders of Kargil to ascertain whether they would support UT status for entire region or not and thereafter would accordingly shape their future course in this regard.
Kunzang said the recent announcement of according ‘divisional’ status to Ladakh region should not be considered as a substitute for the UT status. The two are different issues, he added.
Barchaa urged the authorities to fulfill the long pending demand of the people of Ladakh as they were seeking something which is within the ambit of the Constitution of India.
The UT demand is an old one and the people have been consistently raising the issue ever since the formation of the state post independence, said Changa.
While reminding the sacrifices made by the people of Ladakh in defending the nation, Chamba said the distinct identity of the people could be preserved only when the UT status is accorded to the region. ... |
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