Ladakh tense over Muslim-Buddhist marriage (love jihad)

The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) is up in arms against the PDP-BJP government in Jammu & Kashmir and has decided to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the growing feud between Buddhists and Muslims. The discord appears to have intensified after a 30-year-old Buddhist woman married a 32-year-old Shia man last year after converting to Islam. Top LBA official P T Kunzang told TOI that a Buddhist delegation has been seeking appointment with the PM to apprise him about the situation, but is not getting an audience with him.…

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After Doklam, Line of Actual Control in Ladakh a worry for Army

Even as the two-month-long standoff at Doklam between soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and the Indian Army near border tri-junction in Bhutan has ended, Chinese threat along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain a worry. J&K shares 826-km long LAC with Chinese-occupied Tibet. While the recent scuffle and stone-throwing between border guards near Pangong Tso (lake), 165 km from Leh, on August 15 during the Doklam crisis holds a great significance in the border dispute along the 3,488-km…

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Bipin Rawat Army Chief General to review security in Ladakh

In a significant development, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will review the security scenario in eastern Ladakh over the weekend. His visit comes after Indian and Chinese troops clashed at a spot, north of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh, on August 15. A subsequent meeting of the military commanders of the two countries resolved to work at the ‘existing peace mechanisms’. The Army Chief will be briefed by the Leh-based 14 Corps Commander on Sunday. The Northern Command chief, entire top brass of the 14 Corps and the local…

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Scuffle between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh as two incursion bids by PLA foiled

A major scuffle, which included stone-pelting, took place between Indian and Chinese soldiers along the Line of Actual Control at eastern Ladakh in the western sector on Tuesday even as the tense troop stand-off in Doklam area+ in the eastern sector remains locked in a stalemate. Sources said the confrontation between the rival soldiers took place on the north bank of the Pangong Tso (Tso means lake) in eastern Ladakh, two-thirds of which is controlled by China as it extends from Tibet to India, early on Tuesday morning. “There was…

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Mehbooba welcomes Dalai Lama at Leh, Praises him for statement on Islam

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Leh would give boost to tourist arrivals Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti Sunday welcomed the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, who is currently on a visit to Leh in connection with an annual Buddhist function. Addressing a large gathering here, CM highlighted the pluralistic ethos of Jammu and Kashmir and described it as the abode of different faiths and cultures. She said people living in amity and brotherhood is the specialty of the state and underlined the need for strengthening the bonds among various sections of the…

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Ladakh seeks Goods and Services Tax exemption

Ladakh, the cold desert of the country, has unanimously sought exemption of the goods and services tax (GST) for the Scheduled Tribes living in the region, citing “country’s security considerations in border area and to keep a check on the menace of smuggling of Chinese goods into the region”. Representatives of Ladakh, comprising lone MP from Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang, Minister of Cooperative and Ladakh Affairs in coalition government Chhering Dorjey and Congress Legislature party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora, who is also Leh MLA, have conveyed their concerns to the GST…

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Dalai Lama visits Leh Idgah

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama visited the Leh Idgah today where both Shia and Sunni communities jointly hosted a lunch in his honour. Dalai Lama is in Ladakh for over a month-long visit since June 29. He is visiting the worship place of Muslims on the invitation of Anjuman Moin-ul Islam and Anjuman Imamia and it is his second visit to the religious place. He also released a book on the occasion titled ‘Ladakh kay tariqay aham goshay’ authored by historian Abdul Gani Sheikh. Dalai Lama felicitated two Buddhists, namely…

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Chinese media protests against unfurling of Tibetan flag in Ladakh

Chinese media is criticizing a reported move by the Tibetan government in exile to unfurl a flag representing its idea of “Tibetan national flag” on the shores of Bangong Lake, known as Pangong Lake in India, in Ladakh. The lake is near the actual line of control between China and India, a commentary in Beijing-based Global Times pointed out. The article said that the flag-hoisting, which comes in the midst of the border standoff, has “sparked wide speculation” that Indian authorities have instigated the Tibetan separatists to do this in…

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Leh celebrates Dalai Lama’s 82nd birthday

Thousands of Tibetans on Thursday morning joined in the 82nd birthday celebrations of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama here. Large crowds donning traditional dresses began to assemble since morning at the Shiwatsel Phodrang complex on the outskirts of Leh for the birthday celebrations. “Special prayer sessions were held for the long life of His Holiness,” a Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) spokesperson told IANS. The Dalai Lama, revered by the Tibetans as a “living god”, attended the prayers and blessed the gathering. Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay also attended the…

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Leh erupts over sexual assault on 6 year old boy

Protests erupted in Leh town to condemn the alleged sexual assault on a six-year-old boy in Shey Lamdon School in the district. The residents demanded serious action against the accused. A peaceful procession was taken out from Chokhang Vihara to Polo Ground. Thousands of school students, including people from all walks of life, carrying placards and banners raised slogans. The Civilian Alliance Society in collaboration with the NGOs working for child rights along with leaders of religions organisations and political affiliations took part in the protest and expressed solidarity with…

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