SRINAGAR: Ladakh will soon get special provisions under Article 371 of the Constitution as an “exceptional case”, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Friday.
Rijiju said the Centre was working on providing special provisions to the Union Territory under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, he said, had a special affinity for the region.
“Ladakh is very close to the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Rijiju said while addressing the Silver Jubilee Founder’s Day function of Druk Padma Karpo School at Shey in Leh district, where he was the chief guest.
He said the Ministry of Home Affairs was working towards extending the special provisions and expressed hope that they would materialise soon, allowing the people of Ladakh to benefit from them.
Rijiju said Modi had long wanted to visit Ladakh and interact with its people, adding that the Prime Minister’s desire to visit the region could also be fulfilled soon.
The Union minister said Ladakh had witnessed a major transformation over the past 25 years, particularly during the last decade.
He highlighted improvements in road connectivity, saying journeys between different parts of the Union Territory that earlier took several days could now be completed within hours.
Referring to the recent creation of new districts in Ladakh, Rijiju said the move would benefit the local population. He also recalled that the demand for Union Territory status had been pending for a long time and had now been fulfilled.
Rijiju further said a High Court bench would also be established in Ladakh in the near future, which, he said, would provide greater convenience to the people.
Speaking about minority affairs, Rijiju said he was the first Buddhist to hold a position in the Union Cabinet and attributed it to the government’s focus on providing equal opportunities to minorities.
He said the Centre was committed to the development of all minority communities and was undertaking various initiatives in this regard.
Addressing students at the event, Rijiju urged them to remain connected to their roots and traditions and cautioned them against blindly following trends on the internet.
He said some online influences could have negative consequences and, in certain cases, contribute to violence and law-and-order problems.
Senior officials of the Ladakh administration and members of religious and civil society organisations were present at the event.
