Leh council turns to RSS for UT demand

The newly elected Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, has sought help from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to intensify its stir for union territory (UT) status to Ladakh as BJP leaders are hesitating to openly support of its long-pending demand.
Realising the importance of the RSS, the LAHDC has decided to approach its leaders to get long-pending issues addressed through direct intervention of the Centre.
During their first visit to Jammu after the landslide victory of the BJP in the cold desert, the LAHDC delegation headed by Chief Executive Councillor Sonam Dawa Lonpa on Monday went straightway to Veer Bhawan, the RSS headquarters in Jammu, to seek help for solving long-pending issues.
“Besides the issues of education, unemployment, tourism and Botti language, the delegation thoroughly deliberated on the demand for UT status to Ladakh,” said a source.
The source added that the LAHDC delegation made it clear to RSS leaders that it was difficult, rather impossible, to get this important demand met without their support.
The BJP had, during Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, promised to grant UT status to Ladakh. After coming to power, the party had given a cold shoulder to this demand.
LAHDC leaders decided to seek direct help from the RSS to get important issues resolved as the RSS cadre in Leh had worked as foot soldiers for the BJP in LAHDC elections. The BJP had created history in the LAHDC elections in October this year by winning 15 of the 26 seats.