Ladakhis unite to stop J-K autonomy

Ladakhis unite to stop J-K autonomy
BISHAN KUMAR

SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 3: The snow-covered Himalayan region of Ladakh is smouldering within. The growing pressure for autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in an equally strong demand here to be kept out of such a state.

Political, social and cultural organisations have buried their hatchets, differences have been forgotten and a common agenda formed to thwart all attempts by the state's ruling National Conference (NC) to ``enslave the people of Ladakh and Jammu in the name of more autonomy to the state''. For the first time, all political parties the BJP, Congress, Ladakh Buddhist Association and, most surprisingly, the local National Conference have come on a common platform to oppose the move.

The state autonomy report is likely to be tabled in the forthcoming winter session of the Assembly. The coming weeks are likely to see a fiercer agitation than the one that was witnessed on Monday in Leh. A future course of action is being chalked out, which could include some sort of protest in NewDelhi.

Buddhists have already warned the Central Government ``not to be swayed by Dr Farooq Abdullah's charm and smooth-talking, as to be unable to see the mischievous and dubious design behind the demand for autonomy''.

The stand taken by Ladakhi leaders who participated in the show of strength for a separate Ladakh state in Leh on Monday was the same. The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), which has been spearheading the movement for a separate state of Ladakh, has received a much-needed shot in the arm with the joining of other political parties in the struggle.

LBA secretary told The Indian Express that local compulsions have played a great role as no political party wants to go against the wishes of the people of this land, including even the local unit of the ruling NC. ``We (Ladakhis) have always been discriminated. Our fundamental rights are being denied under the NC rule. If the NC gets autonomy, we will have no future,'' the LBA secretary says.