TSEWANG RIGZIN
LEH: Expelling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) District President Tashi Gyaltsan has not gone down well. From political to religious leaders have shown solidarity with expelled leader who signed the memorandum seeking UT status for Ladakh. The memorandum was submitted to Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to the region this week.
Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) Leh on Thursday held a meeting to deliberate on this development under the chairmanship of President Tsewang Thinles. The meeting regretted that the expulsion of district president by party high command for his endorsement for the UT demand. “This clearly exposed the hidden agenda of PDP towards Ladakh region not supporting Ladakh’s long struggle for grant of UT status and as such members expressed that parties whose ideology and vision negates and contradicts the struggle of the Ladakhi people should have no existence in Ladakh,” LBA said in a statement issued after the meeting. It was also learnt that LBA has suggested PDP members to tender mass resignation and join other political parties whose vision and perspectives match to their thinking. LBA further warned that any group or individual attempting to form the PDP unit in Ladakh in future will not be supported or tolerated.
Earlier on Wednesday all PDP members of Nubra and Leh Assembly segment held a press conference to make it clear that if party president is not reinstated Gyalstan to his post within days, party workers will take further steps indicating resignations rooting out the party from roots.
“We strongly condemn the decision and term it as undemocratic and arbitrary,” party spokesperson Ghulam Hussian said. “We are hand in hand with our leader Tashi Gyaltsan,” Hussein said. It was indicated that newly nominated LAHDC Councilors will also leave the party if situation demands. District Congress Committee while condemning PDP high command advised PDP workers of Leh to join Congress Party. Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Leh unit also condemn both PDP and National Conference (NC) for the opposition they have shown to Ladakh’s demand for UT status.
Meanwhile NC District President Sonam Wangdus was also served notice by NC high commands to explain his position as to why he signed memorandum seeking UT. Sonam Wangdus, while maintaining his support to UT demand, told STATE TIMES that he has already explained his position to the high command.
