SRINAGAR: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) a major political and religious grouping of the Ladakh region today condemned China’s remarks on Ladakh stating that Ladakh has never been China’s part in recorded history and Ladakh is an integral part of India.“We are holding this press conference to condemn the recent comments made by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson about Ladakh. The spokesperson claimed that western Ladakh has always been part of China. We categorically reject this statement. Ladakh has never been under Chinese control and there is no such reference in recorded history,” Chering Dorjay Lakrook, LAB co-chairman said addressing a press conference. LAB member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others were also present during the presser.“We strongly condemn these statements and appeal to the Government of India, particularly the Union Home Ministry, to condemn such remarks in the strongest possible terms and send a clear message to the Chinese government that we are not prepared to give up even an inch of Ladakh, including Aksai Chin, which is under China’s illegal occupation but has historically been part of Ladakh,” Lakrook said.“We expect China to exercise caution and think carefully before making such statements. For the past 75 years, the people of Ladakh have been happily living as part of India,” Lakrook said.On Tuesday China opposed India’s decision to assign standardised names to 28 strategic locations and geographical features in Ladakh. China claimed that the areas belonged to it. “China has never recognised the so-called ‘Union Territory of Ladakh’ unilaterally and illegally established by India,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing in Beijing.Konchok Stanzin, former Councillor of Chushul region in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh, said, “We condemn the statement made by the Chinese spokesperson about Ladakh because Ladakh is an integral part of India. Those of us living along the border including the younger generations, have stood with the Indian Army to defend our territory. During the 1962 war with China, civilians in the border areas also fought to protect our land.”“We reject and condemn the comments made by China about Ladakh. The Chinese government must think carefully before making such statements and the Government of India must strongly reject such statements. We want to remain with India as we have always done and we have consistently resisted Chinese aggression,” he said.“On behalf of the people living along the border, I want to reiterate that these statements are not in the interests of Ladakh and they are entirely condemnable. We strongly condemn them,” he added.Deldan Namgyal former MLA Nubra said since 1962, the people of Ladakh have stood against China to protect their territory. “I also want to make one thing clear the people of Ladakh share a spiritual bond with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was forced to leave Tibet.”
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“No one, whether in India or elsewhere, should assume that the people of Ladakh are agents of China. We have a spiritual enmity with China. We will always stand with India and continue to defend this sacred land,” he added.“I appeal to the Government of India to condemn the Chinese statement at the highest level and in the strongest possible terms. Thank you.”Meanwhile, the crucial round of sub-committee level talks between Ladakh leaders and ministry of home affairs (MHA) officials will be held in Leh Thursday afternoon.The sub-committee level meeting, scheduled for 4 pm, will be attended by leaders of LAB Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa Jan and ministry officials.
