Special Correspondent
JAMMU: Irrespective of caste, colour, religion and rising above the line of political affiliations, people of Ladakh region commonly known as -Cold Desert-have demanded Union Territory status with one voice asserting that they will continue with the efforts and intensify their fight for the cause.
However, giving no space to the party politics and uniting at the same platform in one voice, Ladakh has further intensified its movement for UT Status.
Pertinent to mention here that District President Leh of ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Tashi Gyalson was expelled in October last year from the party while the opposition National Conference, also served show cause notice to its district head Sonam Wangdus for signing a joint memorandum on UT status demand submitted to the Union Home Minister during his Ladakh visit.
“It is overwhelming demand of the people and I feel that debate should be held on the issue,” expelled PDP leader Tashi Gyalson said.
He said that respecting the sentiments of the people, he signed the joint memorandum adding, “pros and cons of UT must be known to the people and it is possible only through debate because it is for people’s cause.” Gyalson further said that PDP has its own agenda and he respects the sentiments of people, for which fight for the UT status demand will be further stepped up.
Presently, Ladakh is having BJP representative Dr Sonam Dawa as Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
“Before joining BJP, UT status was our main demand and it is still alive in our minds” Dr Dawa said.
He expressed the hope that in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule, the status will be granted to Ladakh.
“UT status is one of the most important and major demands of Ladakhis,” he said adding that all political, religious and social bodies are heartedly pursuing the demand and assured that people of Ladakh don’t have to wait much as the issue will be resolved soon.
“People are still suffering the fallout of the partition and any further division of Jammu and Kashmir will only add to the problems of the State and the region as well,” another PDP representative in Leh pleading anonymity said.
He asserted that UT status is a long-standing demand of the region, adding, “we have to come upto the expectations of the people and not only the Congress and BJP but also the LBA have joined hands for the demand.”
However, the Congress Leh President Tsering Samphel and MLAs Nawang Rigzin Jora and Deldan Namgyal have also signed and voiced for separation from Jammu and Kashmir demanding the UT Status but Congress high command did not reacted over the issue.
Former Congress Minister and MLA Nawang Rigzin Jora said, “Our people are united no matter to which party or body they represent,” Jora said.
He said that not only Ladakh, BJP has befooled the entire State.
“They promised Chief Minister from Jammu, Hindu Chief Minister, citizenship rights to West Pakistani Refugees, UT status to Ladakh, abrogation of Article 370, but got exposed and failed to fulfill any of their promise made to the people”, Jora said.
“Modi sent Nitin Gadkari to Ladakh and he announced UT status in 15 days but two years have passed and there is no mention of the hollow slogan he made,” the Congress MLA said.
“It is unfortunate that granting UT status was not even included in Agenda of Alliance signed between PDP and BJP and whether it was Council polls, MP or Assembly polls, BJP made promises which are never fulfilled,” said Jora adding that people of Ladakh are united and will remain unless get the UT status, no matter to which class, colour, religion or party they belong.
Meanwhile, PDP and NC are left unnerved as the parties are not in mood to let their leaders supporting the demand go ”unpunished”.
While the politicians of Ladakh region, irrespective of their political affiliations, exhibited united face over the demand, PDP and NC took no time to act against their senior party leaders for signing a memorandum demanding UT status last year.
