Apart from celebrating Dr. Ambedkar’s birthday the main aim of organizing this rally was to demand the inclusion of Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution. The students were carrying placards and shouting slogans about Bhoti language. More than 2000 students participated in a mass essay writing competition about the importance of Bhoti language. 

The result of the essay competition would be declared later on the occasion of ‘Buddha Purnima’ and cash prize would be distributed among the winners divided into different groups as class 5th to 7th as Junior, class 8th to 10th as sub-junior and 11th and 12th as the senior category.

Speaking on the occasion LBA President Tsewang Thinless urged upon the people to follow the path of Gautam Buddha and avoid discrimination on the basis of caste. He said that the Buddha believed in equality of all human beings, but we humans have created barriers in the name of caste. His Holiness the Dalai Lama during Kalachakra sermon also stressed to avoid such discrimination. “We the people of Ladakh are living under threat from two different nations Pakistan and China and we have been guarding our borders since independence but still Indian government has failed to fulfill our genuine and long pending demand of including Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule. Our language is our identity and our political leaders must also try to raise this issue and not use such demands during elections just to increase their vote banks.” 

He also announced that a committee has been formed in this regard who would continue to work and struggle till this demand is fulfilled. He also stressed on filling up of vacant posts of Bhoti teacher in Ladakh.

Nazir Ahmad, Vice President BJP Leh said that their party is trying all possible steps and are raising this issue. He also said that BJP government is very positive about including Bhoti in the 8th Schedule.

 

Tsering Samphel, President District Congress Committee Leh also stressed the importance of including Bhoti language and said that some language without script are included in the 8th Schedule, but Bhoti language despite having a script is still neglected. 

President Anjuman moin-ul-Islam Sheikh Saif ud-Din also spoke on the occasion and said that we all must unanimously struggle with this issue as Bhoti is our language and our identity.

Earlier presenting the welcome speech, President LBA Youth Rinchen Namgial threw light on the life history of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. 

At the end vote of thanks was presented by LBA Youth Vice President Ishey Konchok Stak and General Secretary Tsewang Namgial host the programme.