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| Ladakhis garnering support for getting UT status | | | Anjan Sathi
JAMMU, Dec 26: The demand for grant of UT status to Ladakh region is gaining momentum with hundreds of activists of Himalayan Cultural Society, Ladakh and Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet are also camping in Jammu to mobilise local support for it as well as inclusion of Ladakhis in talks on Kashmir.
Before holding a rally in Jammu on December 28 in support of their various demands, these activists will meet the leaders of different political, social and business organisations here, said Tashi Targis president, Himalayan Cultural society who is heading the activists from Ladakh.
"We will also mobilise the public opinion here for inclusion of Ladakh is in the talks on Kashmir", he said, adding 'quiet diplomacy' on Kashmir was not acceptable to them.
Alleging that Ladakh could not seek justice for over last 30 years and the region has continuously been given a raw deal by the successive State Governments, he said this has resulted in the brewing public resentment in the region against the establishment. "Targis said only UT status to Ladakh can fulfill their aspirations and provide justice to them."
Though people had pinned high hopes on Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), this body has been divested of all powers by the State Government. Under these circumstances LAHDC is unable to come to the expectations of the people, said Tsewang Dolma, president of Women's Wing of the Society. The Hill Councils in Ladakh has not been give the powers as were needed for the development of the region, she added.
Expressing concern over the plight of the people of the region she said, even after the 62 years of independence many villages in Ladakh region were without the basic amenities. Not to talk of other amenities, six villages in Ladakh including Fotsakar, Youlchung, Narkas, Linshed, Dipling and Skumpota have no road link. Chamur village even does not have primary school facility, she added.
Moreover, the people are subjected to many hardships during Winter due to sky rocketing prices of essential commodities after the closure of Highway for six months, she said, adding the lowest flight fare has been raised for Winter to Rs 1700 while the normal flights charge is between Rs 3000 to Rs 4000, she added.
She said recently on November 14 many people died under snow Avalanche on Leh Manali road. While 12 mangled bodies were recovered some are still missing, she added.
Another major problem which worries the people of Ladakh is the road accidents on Srinagar-Ladakh Highway, said Lobzang Stangzin another senior member of Himalayan Parivar. He accused the Government of not making any efforts for construction of tunnel on Zojela.
The other demands of the Ladakh people for which the Himalayan Parivar and Himalayan Cultural Society have been struggling for years together included inclusion of Boti language into 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution, said Targis. This language is spoken from Ladakh region to Arunachal Pradesh and despite our repeated pleas the Government has failed to concede the demand, he added.
The two organisations have been also struggling for grant of permission to Kailash Mansarovar yatra via Ladakh, he said, adding this will boost the tourism in entire state of J&K.
The Government of India should persuade China in this regard, he said and reiterated the demand of the Ladakhis that China should free Tibet and accord it independent status. There is also brewing resentment among the people in Ladakh over the occupation of land belonging to Ladakh region by China after annexation of Tibet, he added.
He -said recently China objected construction of rolled under NERGA in Indian territory near Indo- Tibet border in Ladakh. Moreover it also stopped the construction of airport on Indian territory. This is undue interference of China in our internal affairs, he added.
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