Ladakh’s involvement in talks on Kashmir crisis imperative: Leh religious organisations
‘Neglecting Ladakh may manifest in revival of UT status demand’
Tsewang Rigzin
LEH: In a significance move, all religious organisations of Leh have jointly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Ladakh’s aspirations should never be ignored while having talks with stakeholders to find a solution to the ongoing crisis in Kashmir. They asserted that Ladakh, having its own identity with no homogeneity with Kashmir in terms of culture, language and ethnicity, needs to be involved in all talks and meetings on Kashmir issue so as to avoid any resentment in future.
Religious heads of Leh held a joint Press Conference at Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) Office Complex on Saturday to make it amply clear that any political solution to Kashmir issue excluding Ladakh’s aspiration shall not be tolerated. The organisations, however, expressed concern over the prevailing situation in Kashmir and expressed that only peaceful ways will help to find an amicable solution to the issue.
“We don’t want to interfere into any decision that Government of India may take to resolve the crisis, however we must be consulted before any such decision as it would affect us also in the long run,” said LBA Spokesperson P.T Kunzang.
“The need of the hour is, therefore, to tackle all the problems relating to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in totality. Any attempt at handling the Kashmir issue in isolation by ignoring the problems of Ladakh will not only be short-sighted but also counterproductive,” a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister signed jointly by all religious organisations reads.
While talking about communal harmony and patriotism amongst Ladakhis, President Anjuman Immamia Ashraf Ali Barcha said that Ladakh is the only place in the State where people never allowed any sort infiltration from across the borders since the start of militancy. President Anjuman Mon-Ul- Islam Sheik Saif-ud-Din observed that Kashmir issue cannot be solved through violence. He also asserted that Ladakh’s aspirations and unique identity must be kept in mind while attempting to find any solution to the Kashmir crisis. Representative of the Christian community of Leh also spoke on the occasion.
President LBA Tsewang Thinles said that Ladakh has been a peaceful region that has not been affected by terrorist activist at all. “Our motive is to join the national mainstream shoulder to shoulder in the strides of development and that would be feasible only if we are allowed to decide for ourselves instead of resting the control in the hands of Kashmir leaders”, he added hinting at Ladakh’s longstanding demand for Union Territory status.
Later religious leaders met the Deputy Commissioner of Leh Prassana Ramaswamy G and forwarded the Memorandum to the Prime Minister through him. The memorandum has hinted that in case Ladakh’s aspirations are neglected, Ladakh’s mass movement to demand for UT can be revived. “We strongly feel that the Union Territory with an elected legislature is the only instrument through which the present political ambivalence can be ended and by which we can achieve our aspirations. We place trust in your sagacity and urge upon you to fulfill our demand without any further delay. We are committed to continuing our joint struggle for our collective honor and dignity”, it cautions. It also points out that in the modern times, when the whole subcontinent has passed through the process of decolonisation to enjoy the fruits of national independence, people of Ladakh, and their land still continue to suffer under the old concept of colonial administrative structure, which suited the imperial interests and feudal rulers under the name of the pseudo-State of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Over the years the successive governments of the State adopted a policy of discrimination and subversion towards the region with the sole objective of stifling its people and marginalising its historical, religious and cultural identity,” it further reads.
