Consider us parted, Ladakh’s strong message to Kashmir

By Animesh Pandey
8 years Ago

As the turmoil in the Kashmir Valley enters its 53^rd Day, a surprise has been thrown in by a rather overlooked region, the scenic Leh Ladakh region. Probably with the muddle that the Pro Pakistani seditionists are trying to drag them (the Ladakhis) in, it seems they have had enough. In a strong, and caustic letter to the Honb. PM of INDIA, Shri Narendra Modi, the BJP MP from Ladakh, Thupstan Chewang, has appealed for Leh Ladakh region to be seceded from the Kashmir Valley, and the status of Article 370 revoked.

Following are the excerpts from the hard hitting letter, written by Thupstan to the Prime Minister:-

“………….We feel stifled at the moment because of the present ongoing senseless violence in a part of the State. It is shocking that we have not been involved in any debate or discussion, held both at the State and Central level, for finding a clue to the continuing impasse in the Valley.

Chewang also stated in this letter, that the secession is not from INDIA, but for a better relationship with INDIA! He says:-

“………………..If those at the helm think that we are ‘separatists’ and hence can be ignored, then let it be so. Yes, we are ‘separatists’ in the sense that we want to secede from Jammu and Kashmir for an unambiguous relationship with our great nation. Why should we continue to pay a heavy price for their violence of thought and action?”

Thupstan also brought forward the strategic location of Ladakh to the mention, where he stated:-

Ladakh has nothing to do with the 'senseless violence' in Kashmir .Demands UT with legislature @BJP4India MP Ladakh pic.twitter.com/lPiFAcAxoC

— Rinchen Tundup (@rinchen_tundup) August 30, 2016

“……………..We feel that with full attention of state and Central governments in particular and political parties in general focused on the valley, the security of Ladakh and its people are likely to be jeopardized. We live next door to hostile neighbors Pakistan and China, both of which lose no chance to harass us and our country. It is not a comfortable thought that one or both of them may target us at a time of their choosing, as one did in Kargil in 1999.”

On going back the track, one can notice that Thupstan’s agony actually makes sense. Leh Ladakh region is sandwiched between Pakistan and China, who are hell bent on making Kashmir Valley an integral part of the former. Their policy of drawing all attention towards the situation in Valley by consistently upping the ante of the stone pelters and the Salafi Islamic terrorists, who piggyback on them, like Burhan Wani, Hafiz Saeed to name a few, has brought considerable success, isolating the other two regions completely, both by attention and security, making them vulnerable. However, in their over enthusiasm, both the countries made a perennial blunder. YES, A BLUNDER!

Both have forgot, that the state of Jammu & Kashmir is not only made up of Kashmir Valley, it includes Leh Ladakh, Jammu and Gilgit Baltistan region too! Besides, the way Pakistan, backed indirectly by CHINA, is fighting for the Kashmir Valley, is like someone is fighting for the filling of the sandwich, while ignoring the breads at expense! If you look at the current Indian map, you wouldn’t doubt at all. On top is the Leh Ladakh region, along with the prestigious but bone chilling Siachen region. AT the base is Jammu, and in between, sandwiched, is the Kashmir Valley, while completely ignoring that its own ‘tail and arse’, i.e. Sindh and Balochistan, is about to be cut off! Besides, a country that cannot save its face even in cricket (Look at the recently concluded England vs. Pakistan match) and Olympics, is talking about wresting Kashmir Valley from us. Ironic, and hilarious as well.

Besides, the demographics of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir cannot be ignored now, especially in the light of the letter written to the PM. As per the Census of 2011, INDIA, here are the following populations’ footnotes:-

So according to the Census estimate, approximately 55% of the population is from the Kashmir Valley (all thanks to the population growth drive of the 90s, orchestrated by the benevolent Pakistan), while 45% is from the pro INDIAN regions of Jammu & Ladakh division. That makes for on an average, approximately some 6 Kashmiris to the 4 Jammu & Ladakh denizens. We are on a disadvantage, right? WRONG, if you even dare to think so.

This is so, only when you with an eye closed. But even a coin has two sides, and the Kashmir picture has more than two sides. If we include the oppressed denizens of PoK, who anyway would prefer INDIA to the so called PAKISTANI ‘benefactors’, the game changes by a margin, and how. According to a census, taken as back as 2008, the residents of the Pakistan oppressed Kashmir amounted to 45, 67, 282 residents. As of now, it would be nothing less than some 60 to 70 lakh residents.

Add them to the pro Indian regions, and the Kashmiri advantage falls back by a margin. Include the rest of INDIA, and you get this :- For every 6 Kashmiris (approximately), we have more than 2000 INDIANS. Even if half of them are united against the same, WHO WILL BE THE DADDY? Also, if is one following some serious news, for the first time, the CM of Kashmir had the audacity to say, ‘A Small Group is Holding the Majority to Ransom’. So if we strike on the Kashmir Valley’s weakest point, i.e. take the overwhelming support of the oppressed women and youth, the mere 3 to 4 separatists (terrorists to be precise) stand absolutely no chance.

At such a time, the letter of Thupstan is a call to the final attack: It’s NOW OR NEVER! If our PM really means his words, as he had demonstrated from time to time, he must now waste no time, and act upon this concern.