Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 18: After creating history by winning Ladakh Parliamentary segment, BJP has to take decision on granting Union Territory (UT) status to the Ladakh within three months. BJP, during campaign for Parliamentary elections, had promised to grant UT status to Ladakh.
There is feeling among party leadership that UT status should be granted to Ladakh within three months before announcement of schedule for Assembly elections. BJP leadership has formulated a policy to win atleast 25 assembly seats. And, to achieve this target, BJP has to further strengthen its base in Ladakh especially in Kargil.
Insiders in the BJP said that party leadership has decided to take up this issue with the high command very soon so that process in this regard should be initiated as early as possible. Already some groups, associated with BJP, have started process to grant UT status to Ladakh.
BJP leadership is of the opinion that Ladakhis have suffered immensely under the oppressive rule and domination by Kashmir dissentions and want "liberation" from slave like situation.
Newly elected MP from Ladakh and BJP leader, Thupstan Chhewang, had stated some time back at Jammu that "The people of Ladakh have been demanding separation from Jammu and Kashmir by according Ladakh the status of a Union Territory as we fulfill all the criteria and norms that are essential for an area to be declared as a separate entity".
The continuous neglect of Ladakh by successive Governments in the State of Jammu and Kashmir has proved our apprehension of discrimination and step motherly treatment, he had stated.
Ladakh region is a victim of continuous neglect and discrimination at political and administrative levels. Despite the formation of Ladakh Automous Hill Development Councils both in Leh and Kargil districts, which constitute the Ladakh region, remain at the receiving end in the State. |
