SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Ladakh soon and may inaugurate development projects and interact with residents during the visit, Union Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday.
Rijiju did not announce a date for the proposed visit but said Modi had been keen to travel to Ladakh and meet its people for some time.
Addressing the silver jubilee Founder’s Day function of Druk Padma Karpo School at Shey in Leh, Rijiju said Ladakh was among the regions receiving particular attention from the Prime Minister, along with Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern states.
“I, as a Cabinet Minister, have observed that Narendra Modi always has special focus on development of Ladakh, North East and Jammu and Kashmir,” Rijiju said.
He said Ladakh was “very close to the heart” of Modi and claimed that the Union Territory would soon receive special provisions under Article 371 as an exceptional case.
Rijiju said the Union Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs and under Modi’s leadership, was working on the proposed special provisions and expressed confidence that they would be implemented soon.
The minister said Ladakh had seen significant development over the past decade, particularly in infrastructure, connectivity and social and economic sectors. Improved roads, he said, had reduced travel time between several parts of the region from days to hours.
Referring to the recent creation of new districts in Ladakh, Rijiju said the administrative changes would benefit residents. He also said the long-standing demand for Union Territory status had been fulfilled.
Rijiju further said a High Court Bench would be established in Ladakh, describing the move as an important measure to improve access to justice for people in the region.
On minority welfare, Rijiju said he was the first Buddhist to serve in the Union Cabinet and attributed his position to Modi’s concern for minority communities. He said all minorities had equal opportunities and that the government was committed to their development.
Addressing students at the event, Rijiju urged young people to remain connected to their roots and traditions. He also cautioned them against blindly following trends on social media, saying some online influences could have adverse consequences, including violence and law-and-order problems.
