With the growing apprehension among the people of the region after Union Territory status for Ladakh, all religious heads and political parties under the banner of Ladakh Buddhist Association organised a peace rally demanding constitutional safeguards for Ladakh on February 17. 

Thousands of people from different parts of the region holding the tricolour joined the peace rally starting from Chowkhang Vihara till Polo ground. 

President LBA, P T Kunzang reiterated the sacrifices made by the people and struggles of leaders who lead the UT demand movement. He said, “People of Ladakh are happy and expressing their gratitude time now and then to Modi government for the UT status after 70 long years. But, along with it we also need constitutional safeguards to protect the interest of the people of the region”.

He said that the growing concern among people of the region regarding land, job, identity and culture is very much reasonable after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A. 

P T Kunzang expressed the importance of constitutional safeguards for UT Ladakh to keep the identity of the region alive. He stressed on staying united keeping the interest of the region above all. 

Representatives of Anjuman Imamia, Anjuman Moin-Ul-Islam, Christian Association, Ladakh Gonpa Association and political parties BJP and Congress also expressed the need for constitutional safeguard for the Ladakh region. 

A copy of the memorandum to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India signed by Presidents of all religious organisations and political parties on behalf of the people of the region was submitted through Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Umang Narula. 

The memorandum highlights 15 major demand including protection of land, ecosystem, job, interest of the business community, culture, language and ethnicity of Ladakh and citizenship rights of the indigenous people of the Ladakh. Strengthening, empowerment/Re-organisations and delimitation of Hill Council, separate Rajya Sabha for Ladakh, complete tax emption, establishment of High Court, inclusion of Bhoti language under 8th schedule of the Indian constitution, caderization of employees, establishment of the Ladakh Public Service Commission and Minority commission and promotion of agriculture sectors were highlighted.