Cutting across party and religious lines, residents of Ladakh have intensified their agitation for union territory (UT) status for the cold desert region.

The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), with the support of political parties, religious and trade organisations on Wednesday, organised a massive rally in Leh in support of their demand with legislature powers for Ladakh.

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On the other hand, the Zanskar Buddhist Association (ZBA) is also spearheading an agitation for district status to Zanskar which is currently under the Kargil district.

Even at the temperature of -8 degrees Celsius, the ZBA organised a rally through the snow-covered streets of the town. Residents of Ladakh were annoyed that certain top leaders of BJP have “betrayed” them by having during the 2014 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections promising UT status for the region.

What they have finally given was just a divisional level status, they rue.

As the locals allege, because of the “false” promise, the BJP had for the first time won the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat, but the party MP, Thuptsan Chhewang, recently resigned from the party and also the Lok Sabha seat to protest against the failure of the BJP leadership to meet the aspirations of the people of Ladakh.

It is alleged that a few Kashmir-centric political parties have been trying to create a divide among the people of Leh and Kargil districts on the issue of UT status.

Holding placards reading “Free Ladakh from Kashmir” and “One Voice, One Demand UT with legislature”, a large number of people, led by LBA president Tsewang Thinles, took part in the procession which began from Leh market and culminated at the historical Polo Ground where religious leaders addressed the gathering.

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Chairman Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and Councillors also participated in the rally supporting the UT demand.

Muslim Coordination Committee representative, Ashraf Ali Barcha, who is also the president of Anjuman Imamiya Leh, said that Ladakh has its own culture, history and language and therefore the long-standing demand must be fulfilled as Ladakhis are demanding something which is within the ambit of the Constitution of India.

Christian Community president, Dechan Changa, stressed for the need of collective efforts of all stakeholders in Ladakh to put up the demand in an effective manner and added that UT demand for Ladakh is not a new one but it has been there since the time of independence.