Avinav Verma
Leh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Ladakh again, with the proposed visit expected to set the tone for the Centre’s next phase of engagement with the Union Territory.
This was stated by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday, who said the Prime Minister would visit Ladakh and share his thoughts and plans with the people during the visit.
Rijiju was speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Druk Padma Karpo School in Leh, where he was the chief guest.
“He will come to Ladakh again and share his thoughts and plans with you,” Rijiju said.
The indication of another visit by the Prime Minister comes at a time when the Centre is working on a set of measures concerning Ladakh, including a proposed special constitutional provision under Article 371 and changes in the region’s administrative structure.
Rijiju said the commitment made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide special provisions for Ladakh under Article 371 was now taking shape with the support of Prime Minister Modi.
“The people of Ladakh have been given a commitment by the Government of India, by Home Minister Amit Shah, that you will be given a special provision in Article 371. This is a very big commitment,” he said.
He said Article 371 contains special provisions for certain states and asserted that the proposed arrangement for Ladakh would help protect its interests and its distinct cultural identity.
Rijiju also referred to the ongoing process of creating seven districts in Ladakh, saying the region earlier had only Leh and Kargil as its two districts.
“Earlier there were only two districts, Leh and Kargil. Now, along with seven districts, seven councils are being formed to empower people at the grassroots level of democracy,” he said.
According to Rijiju, the earlier autonomous arrangements did not provide the level of empowerment that the Centre now intends to establish through the new administrative structure.
He said the formation of seven districts and councils was aimed at taking administration closer to the people and strengthening grassroots democracy.
Rijiju said that the measures being undertaken by the Centre would be important for Ladakh in the long term and that their significance would be understood more clearly by future generations.
The Union Minister also highlighted the government’s plans to improve infrastructure in Ladakh, particularly in areas close to the borders.
He said the Centre had committed to providing road connectivity, telecommunications and other essential facilities in border areas in a time-bound manner.
“We had said that in your border areas, complete road connectivity, telecommunication and all other facilities will be provided in a time-bound manner, one after another,” Rijiju said.
He said work in this direction was progressing under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
At the same time, Rijiju acknowledged that development in the geographically difficult region would take time and would have to proceed in phases.
“Everything cannot be done at once. The work will continue, but the commitment of our government towards Ladakh will always remain special,” he said.
During his address, Rijiju also shifted focus to the cultural identity of Ladakh and urged young people to remain connected with their traditional values, language and way of life.
He said the growing influence of global lifestyles through the internet should not lead the younger generation to lose touch with its roots.
Rijiju, referring to his own Buddhist background, said traditional institutions and spiritual leaders continued to play an important role in preserving the region’s way of life.
“I am a Buddhist and we live according to our traditions. Our Rinpoches, Lamas, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lord Buddha guide us from time to time. Our way of life is passed from one generation to another,” he said.
He expressed concern that young people were increasingly exposed to American and European lifestyles through the internet while becoming less connected with their elders and traditional values.
“The internet is good for information, education and communication, but we cannot learn our way of life from the internet,” Rijiju said.
“If I am from Ladakh, I must live according to the traditions and way of life of Ladakh. The Ladakhi language should always remain my mother tongue,” he added.
Rijiju also appealed to the youth to exercise restraint and not allow content circulating on social media and the internet to provoke them.
He stressed that peace and non-violence remained central to Ladakh’s Buddhist traditions.
“Peace and non-violence are the teachings of Lord Buddha,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Rijiju was welcomed at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh by representatives of Druk Padma Karpo School, former chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Tashi Gyalson, Ladakh BJP chief Tashi Gyaltsan Khachu and others.
He later attended the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Druk Padma Karpo School as the chief guest, where he was honoured with a traditional Khata and a memento.
