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Communal tension in Ladakh as Buddhist monk marches towards Kargil

Situation is tense in the Union Territory of Ladakh due to the march led by monk. March started from Buddhist-dominated Leh on May 31 and will conclude in Muslim-dominated Kargil on June 14.

As per The Tribune, Choskyong Palga Rinpoche along with his followers have begun the journey and focuses on laying the stone of a monastery at a controversial site in Kargil. March is facing oppositions from few of Muslim community members. The issue holds importance as members of both communities had, for the first time, forged an alliance last year to raise their demand for the 6th Schedule for Ladakh to safeguard the local heritage, culture and rights of people.

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner said that the march was politically motivated and could disturb communal harmony in Ladakh. The letter read that KDA in a meeting with representatives of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) regarding the issue of construction of a Gompa (monastery) in Kargil and both bodies agreed that the issue must be resolved peacefully. “Under such circumstances, a third person having no stake in the matter was trying to disrupt peace in the region”, it read.

Kargil unit of the LBA has extended support to the monk.  Its chief Skarma Dadul said that the Buddhists were being stooped from constructing a monastery in Kargil. “We don’t want to create any tension, but it is our right to have a proper place of worship,” he said.