Ladakh Buddhist Association and All Ladakh Conpa Association, Leh organised a massive rally in Leh demanding enactment of anti-conversion law, inclusion of Bhoti language in the 8th schedule of Indian constitution, creation of a separate department for culture, immediate commencement of recruitment process in Ladakh and restoration of 1961 Govt. order for construction of a monastery in Kargil.

A copy of the memorandum was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor of UT Ladakh through Divisional Commissioner, Saugat Biswas on April 11. The memorandum reads, “We, the Buddhists of Ladakh, are completely dismayed by the Union Government’s apathy towards our serious and immediate concerns about our survival in the face of continuing conversions and assaults on our language, culture and faith, and hereby resolve: 

(a) We shall not rest till we achieve our goal of life with dignity. 
(b) We shall fight for the enactment of an anti-conversion law to prevent the conversion of our girls through allurements, misrepresentation, use of subtle coercive tactics and in the name of inter-religion marriages. 
(c) We shall ensure due recognition of the Bhoti language as a medium of instruction in keeping with the National Education Policy.   
(d) We shall prevail upon the Government to ensure faster recruitment to end the educated unemployment. 
(e) We shall aim for the establishment of a department of culture exclusively devoted to preserving our rich and ancient culture and heritage.  
(f) We shall have a Gonpa in Kargil.”

The resolution further reads, “We express deep anguish over the Government’s stony silence on each issue. The official attitude verges on insolence. Winds of hope and positivity sweeping the rest of the country are being stopped at our doorstep. The Government is overlooking our genuine claims while drum-beating achievements on two fronts: enactment of anti-conversion law in at least nine party-ruled states and encouraging teaching in mother- tongue throughout the country. Its disregard for us on both the counts is unacceptable.”

Addressing the media, President, LBA, Thupstan Chhewang said, “The protest rally is not being organised in Leh only, same protest is carried out by the branches of LBA in Changthang, Nubra, Zanskar, Kargil and Khaltse. We expected to meet L-G after the rally to submit the resolution copy but we came across that he is not available in Leh. We strongly condemn this act because LG is avoiding us”.

He accused LG Ladakh of not being able to deliver a good administration, thus failing to live up to the people’s expectations. He said that the UT administration failed to solve the unemployment crisis and was also unable to utilise the budget allocated by the government.  

Talking about the CIBS, Thupstan Chhewang said that the institute is the soul and heart of Ladakh, where the art and culture of Ladakh have been taught and preserved. 
“CIBS is established with some aim and objectives today conspiracy is being hatched to destroy the very essence of CIBS. We are not going to accept any such plans”, he added.

LBA stressed the enactment of anti-conversion law in Ladakh. They stated that One of the reasons for our decade's long campaign for separation from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State and elevation as the UT was to stop the conversion of our girls. Now that we have a UT we find that it has not measured up to our expectations and we continue to be subjected to ignominy. the Buddhist population of Ladakh has, as a consequence of conversions, declined from an overwhelming about 80 percent in 1947 to less than 40 per cent (2011 Census). The issue of conversions is the single biggest irritant between the Buddhists and Muslims. The law shall be one for all and against none. 

Rigzin Dorjay, LBA, Youth wing President, Kunzes Dolma, General secretary, LBA, Women wing; Ven Shedup Champa, President, Ladakh Gompa Association; Sonam Dorjay, President, LBA Leh unit addressed the gathering at Pologround, Leh.