Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 27: Ladakh Buddhist Association President Thupstan Chhewang has maintained that apex body will not involve in any politics but will continue to struggle to demands for safeguard for Ladakh.
He was speaking during an event organized to pay tribute to UT martyrs Nawang Rinchen of Sankar village, Tsering Stobdan of Durbuk and Tsewang Dorjey of Saboo village, popularly known as ‘NDS’, on their 33rd death anniversary, here today.
Thupstan alleged that Hill Council has become powerless, having no authority on Land protection and public representative have not power and right and UT is run by bureaucrats issuing number of orders against public of Ladakh.
Remembering the UT agitation martyrs, political, religious and prominent leaders of Leh paid rich tributes to Nawang Rinchen, Tsering Stobdan, and Tsewang Dorjey at Martyrs’ Memorial Park Skyatsaks Leh on their 33rd death anniversary of the trio who were martyred in firing on 27th August 1989 during the agitation launched to demand UT Status for Ladakh.
Tributes were also paid to Lobzang Tsondus of Likir and Tashi Angchuk of Saspol who sacrificed their lives on 24th January 1981 during an agitation launched to demand Schedule Tribe (ST) status to Ladakhis. Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) organized wreath laying ceremony at Martyrs Memorial Park Skyatsaks, where large number of prominent citizens, family members, relatives, well-wishers including LAHDC Chief Executive Councilor Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Executive Councilors, MP Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Councilors, religious leaders, political party leaders and general public participated.
Monks from Hemis Monastery chanted special prayer for the departed souls and gathering observed two minutes silence to pay homage. Chief guest of the occasion, Skyabje Thuksey Rinpoche, Hill Council Chairman Advocate Tashi Gyalson, J&K former Minister and LBA Vice President Chering Dorjay Lakrook, LBA Youth President Rigzin Dorjay, Muslims leader Sayed Naqisha and LBA women wing’s General Secretary Kunzes Dolma also address the gathering.
All the merchant establishments in Leh remained shut for half day in the memory of the martyrs.
Meanwhile, soon after the UT martyrs function, LBA GCM members held an important meeting under the chairmanship of LBA President Thupstan Chhewang. Thiksay Khanpo Rinpoche, Thuksey Rinpochey, Bakula Rangdol Nima, LGA President Acharya Tenzin Wangtak and representative from 16 major monasteries of Ladakh were present in the meeting.
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