Himalyan Buddhist Cultural Association holds protest

Activists of Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association today took out a rally and later held protest demonstration against failure of the central as well as the state governments in fulfilling their long pending demands. The protest was led by the President of the association Tashi Targis. A large number of women and students from Ladakh were participated and raised anti-government slogans and carrying placards with highlighting their demands. Tashi Targis, while addressing the protestors, said that the people of Ladakh has been discriminated for decades in all matters and at all levels. Their language has not been included in the 8th schedule till date. This language is being spoken from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh and is the oldest language but has not been included in the 8^th schedule of the Indian Constitution, while a number of other languages which are used by a very less population have been honoured by including in the 8th Schedule. It is total injustice and discrimination with us. He further said that the route to holy Kailash Mansarover needs to be re-opened through Ladakh for the comfort of the yatris and thirdly the government of India should use all its channels to press China to vacate Tibet, illegally occupied by it. Tashi Targis said it is not for the first time that the people of Ladakh have come on roads to draw the attention of the government to highlight their demands but unfortunately no one is serious towards these. Repeated claims of ending discrimination with Ladakh are made by the successive governments in the state as well as at the centre but in reality no effective steps have been taken to fulfill our demands. He said that it is due to the weak foreign policy of the Central government that China has started interfering in our internal matters. It was the Congress government in 1962 which surrendered 42,000 sq. km. of our land to China and now again it is the same Congress-led government at the centre which has adopted a complete silence over china’s interference in our matters. He asked the UPA as to why it has not made it clear to China that we will not tolerate any interference and that Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are integral parts of India. He said when Government of India can hold talks with Pakistan, why it do not deem it necessary to raise the issues of Ladakhis with China? Why different yardsticks are adopted for one region of the state and the other while both are the important parts of the Jammu and Kashmir. The people of ladakh too are as equal citizens of India that of Kashmir and Jammu and hence their demands too need to be redressed. He declared that the Association will not rest till their demands are not fulfilled. Ladakh Students Union President, Tsering Norfil, Women Wing President of the Association Tsewang Dolma, Ladakh Kalyan Sangh Convener Dr. Anil Kumar, advocate Tashi Raftan and Student leader Rinchen Daba also addressed the protestors on this occasion