Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday said the traditions, language and heritage of Ladakh will be protected without elaborating on any constitutional guarantees.
"Ladakh’s pristine beauty, traditions, culture, language and heritage will be protected and people will benefit immensely from the Union Territory status, which will open new doors for employment and development here. The government under the leadership of Narendra Modi has always been considerate to aspirations of Ladakh and fulfilled them as promised,” he said, while inaugurating a four-day Ladakh Festival.
Complimenting the locals for getting Union Territory status for Ladakh, Mr. Malik said the region's exclusive landscape and people, who are deeply rooted in their traditions and culture, have always pulled him towards it. “I am also a believer in Mahatma Buddha’s philosophy, which preaches ultimate peace. I will always be its goodwill ambassador,” he said.
Mr. Malik earlier supported retention of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), a body of elected representatives, even after the UT status. The provisions of the LAHDC allows the local administration to decided on land use and jobs.
Unlike Leh in Ladakh, Kargil is up in arms against the UT status. The Central government has held a series of meeting, including by Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, with leaders of the Joint Action Committee, spearheading a protest against the decision.
The BJP’s efforts to buy peace in Kargil got a major boost when Haji Anayat, a former legislator, joined the BJP along with his supporters last week. Mr. Anayat was earlier associated with the Peoples Democratic Party and served as vice chairman in the Legislative Council of the State Assembly.
