Ladakhis demand Union Territory status

KOLAR GOLD FIELDS, JULY 13. Mr. I. Loganathan, honorary president, Buddhist Society of India, Kolar Gold Fields, in a letter to Mr. Vajpayee, says that the Ladakh should be made a Union Territory.

A study of the situation in Ladakh this letter says, shows that the Ladakhis do not have a share in the Government administration and organisation which can provide much scope for the Buddhist community to come together for concerted action which can benefit them.

``The principle of justice is being crushed under the feet of vested interests (Sunni Muslims). Muslims conservatism continues to operate ruthlessly and the Buddhists cannot hope for justice. It is nothing but a Jihad (crusade) proclaimed by the Muslims against the Buddhists who were denied full-freedom to advocate its cause. Further the Muslims are preaching Hijrah (emigration) notwithstanding the majority population of Buddhists in Ladakh region,'' the letter says.

The Ladakh Buddhists claim the right of Union Territory status because they are a national group on a given territory which is their homeland and in the zones where they are in a majority.

The Government of India should concede the demands of Ladakhis. The true remedy against the growing instances of betrayal by Muslim Fundamentalists - pro-Pakistanis, is to separate Ladakh from Kashmir and make this sensitive border region as a Union Territory. Conferment of Union Territory status on Ladakh will serve to wrest political power in the hands of the people for their self-realisation, self-development and self- fulfilment. And also it will serve to preserve the integrity of our motherland.

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