Leh: The union territory will witness a complete shutdown on Monday, protesting against the conspiracies to defame His Holiness Dalai Lama, with religious organisations and civil society announcing ‘chakka jam’, besides closure of markets to show solidarity with the Tibetan spiritual head.
Monday’s shutdown call came on Saturday, when thousands of people across religions and regions came out in Leh, taking out a march in the capital city of the Union Territory, and showing their resentment against the misinterpretation of a video clip purportedly showing Dalai Lama asking a boy to suck his tongue, following which Dalai Lama apologised to the boy, his family and friends for the “hurt his words may have caused”.
Lamenting over the ongoing smear campaign against His Holiness the Dalai Lama by certain mainstream media and individuals, the religious organisation in Leh organised a peaceful march on Saturday.
Cutting across the religious lines and that of political affiliation, thousands of people participated in the peaceful protest organised by Ladakh Buddhist Association and Ladakh Gonpa Association along with Tibetan Youth Congress Leh and Regional Tibetan Women, besides locals and prominent members of civil society in large numbers.
Alleging that a doctored video of Dalai Lama is being used to defame the spiritual leader, the protestors condemned the conspiracy to defame Dalai Lama and extended support to him, while asking the media channels to apologise for their wrong portrayal of the spiritual leader.
“We strongly and unequivocally condemn the malicious intent of some evil forces to discredit His Holiness in order to please their benefactors,” said the LBA and LGA in a statement issued after the protest.
“We beseech people of wisdom and balanced understanding to know a culture before true, untrue meanings are drawn from propaganda material posted and made viral on social media handles. Tongue sticking or tongue hanging is an expression of extreme compassionate love, kindness and even humility in many cultures.
“The misconstrued presentation of facts by vested interests has hurt the feelings of the millions who find a ray of hope in him at a time when the world is facing strife and conflicts due to mistrust, deceit and selfish motives,” said the statement.
On Sunday, Thupstan Chhewang, LBA president announced that a complete shutdown across Ladakh will be organised on Monday, April 17 to express their solidarity with the Dalai Lama and to protest the negative campaign against the spiritual head.
“A peaceful protest rally will be taken out through the entire Leh at 10 am on Monday, which will culminate at the Polo Ground,” he said.
I appeal to all business establishments, schools, offices to remain closed on Monday. There should be no traffic movement. However, the emergency services including the students appearing for their examinations will be exempted, he said.
In Kargil, Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam, Zanskar, Zanskar Gonpa Association, Lambardar Association, Zanskar Buddhist Association and its youth and women wing have also announced the shutdown.
