Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 19: The Ladakhi Buddhist Association (LBA), Buddhists premier organization in Ladakh, has once again reiterated its age-old demand seeking Union Territory status for their strategic trans-Himalayan region, saying this is the only panacea available to end 70-year-old domination of Kashmir over their region and preserve their distinct identity and culture.
The only difference this time is that the LBA has not insisted that the UT be granted to the whole of Ladakh region, the state's largest region housing a population of nearly 3 lakh. It has said that it would not impose their demand on the people of Kargil and it is for them to decide their own line. Kargil is Shia-dominated district. At the same time, however, the LBA wants the Zanskar tehsil in the Kargil district to become part of Leh district, as the Zanskar tehsil is 98 per cent Buddhist. It is questioning Sheikh Abdullah for making Zanskar part of Kargil district and says his decision was irrational and against the interests of the Buddhists of the region.
Sadly, the inter-communal relations in Zanskar are far from normal. The Buddhists enforced social, economic and political boycott against members of the other community years ago and the boycott is in force ever since then.
It was only the other day that president of the LBA Tsewang Thinles reiterated the demand for UT for the Leh district. Reiterating the demand, Thinles said that their demand was 70 year old and the people of Leh district, the largest district in the state, could not live under the Kashmir hegemony any longer. "Head Lama of Ladakh Koshuk Bakula had demanded separation from Kashmir in 1947 itself saying their was nothing that was common between Ladakh and Kashmir and that they wanted to merge their identity with India, as the demand in Kashmir for special status was not acceptable to them," recalled the LBA president. He added the people of Ladakh had been suffering "because they uphold the national flag in the region" and "raise Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogan".
"Our commitment to the national unity and Indian Constitution, barring Article 370, has led to our neglect. Enough is enough. We want UT at any cost. The BJP had promised it. The people of Ladakh gave the lone Lok Sabha seat to the BJP and also gave a massive mandate to the BJP in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council Development, Leh, elections. Now, it's time for the BJP to fulfill its commitment," said the LBA president.
"We not only want UT for Leh, but we also want the neglected people of Jammu to get the status of statehood and internally-displaced Kashmiri Hindus a separate homeland in the Valley invested with UT status," Tsewang Thinles also said.
In Jammu as well, things are not normal. The concerned people of Jammu too are saying what the LBA chief said. The fact of the matter is that the inter-regional relations between Jammu and Kashmir and between Kashmir and Ladakh were never bitter as they are today. There is mistrust. The recent alleged Kathua murder case has changed the whole scenario. |
