HBCA demanded Union Territory status for Ladakh & appealed all parties to support UT Status

 Jammu, December 30 (Vijay Kumar) – Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association (HBCA) on Wedenesday demanded Union Territory (UT) status for Ladakh and appealed all political parties to support UT Status for Ladakh and other demands.   

Addressing a press conference in Jammu today Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association (HBCA) president Tashi Targis while condemning the Working Group Report on Strengthening Centre-State Relations for rejecting the demand of Union Territory Status to Ladakh, termed it unfortunate.He said report seems to be prepared under the influence of Congress and National Conference, as both these parties have taken an anti-Ladakh stand and never uttered a single word during the last 25 years for the fulfillment of long pending demands of the Ladakhis. “The 62 years of independence has virtually proved meaningless for the people of Ladakh as they were forced to live with adversities”, he said, adding, “Successive state governments failed to mitigate the sufferings of the coldest region”.

Taking a dig at the recent statement of Minister for Tourism & Culture Nawang Rigzin Zora that “Ladakh gets due share in development”, the HBCA president said that the Minister can’t mislead the people of Ladakh as they are worst sufferers and the best judges of ground reality prevailing in Ladakh region. He said like Kashmir and Jammu, Ladakh is also part of this state and if some funds are allocated for Ladakh, same is done for Kashmir and Jammu and hence this can not be treated as some sort of Special package or concession.. It is the duty of every elected government to take care of the needs and demands of the people living in all the regions and the State Govt has vitually failed to extend some additional funds or mega projects for Ladakh which is contrary to Govt claims.

Tashi Targis categorically said that Ladakh should be treated at par with Jammu and Kashmir.

Highlighting the demands of Ladakh, he said the Ladakhi people are struggling from last 25 years for their demands of including Bhoti language in 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, re-opening of Kailash Mansarovar Road via Leh-Ladakh and freedom of Tibet from illegal occupation of China but it is unfortunate neither Central Govt nor State Govt has ever given sympathetic look to their demands.

Commenting over the recent incursion by China in Leh-Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, Tashi Targis raised apprehension over the silent attitude of the Union Govt in this connection which speaks of its weak foreign policy. He appealed the Govt of India to take this important issue seriously and categorically tell China that Ladakh and Aruncchal Pradesh are the integral parts of India and their interference will not tolerated.

Appreciating the Statement of Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister of daring China that AP is part of India, he condemned the state government for its total silence as far as Ladakh is concerned. ‘State Govt’s silent attitude indicates that it has not taken the issue  seriously, he said .

HBCA Women wing president Tsewang Dolma and its Convenor Dr. Anil Kumar were also present in the press conference.

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