Buddhists protest demographic changes

Recent reports from Ladakh had been hinting at the growing unrest among Buddhists after the recent Lok Sabha election. The elections were fought on communal lines between the National Conference and Congress in which the former won. Congress candidate Thupstan Chewwang was considered a moderate Buddhist and his nomination had evoked hopes among the Ladakhis that finally this election will see an end to communal electoral politics in the region.Asking the Prime Minister to rein in Farooq Abdullah Government, the LBA said that “national security interests in Ladakh is inextricably linked with the interest and concerns of Buddhists of the region”.

The LBA has alleged, over the years there has been influx of Muslims from Kargil and Kashmir, which had reduced Buddhists to a minority status. Alleging that the state government was encouraging the demographic changes the LBA says, “If the trend is allowed to continue there is every possibility of Buddhists losing their distinctive cultural identity”.Demanding a CBI inquiry into the involvement of Ladakhis living in Kargil in transshipment of arms and ammunition for spreading insurgency in the region, the LBA alleged the state government had hushed up the case.

The Buddhists, the memorandum said, had been facing discrimination in recruitment in jobs and professional colleges.