Page 7 - Ladakh

PM Modi launches Shinkun La Tunnel construction; how will it help troops

Despite harsh weather conditions and challenging topography, building infrastructure along the China border has remained a top priority for the central government

Kargil Vijay Diwas: PM Modi to visit Ladakh on 25th anniversary of 1999 war

Kargil Vijay Diwas: PM Modi will pay a visit to the Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh to commemorate the 25th anniversary celebrations to mark India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 war

What's behind the Centre's big love for Ladakh in Union Budget 2024?

The government's increased budget allocations for Ladakh and additional allocations for various central expenditures have focused on the overall development of the region over the years

Union Budget 2024: Budget allocation for Ladakh rises by 32% to Rs 5,958

The Centre has allocated Rs 5,958 crore for the Union Territory of Ladakh in the Union Budget 2024-25 announced on Tuesday, a massive 32 per cent rise from last year's allotment of Rs 4,500 crore. The Ladakh UT, which was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, has received Rs 2,035.49 crore for establishment expenditure of the Centre to meet its secretariat-related expenses and establishment of other departments and offices. The Budget, announced by by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has allocated to Ladakh Rs 3,922.51 crore for other Central sector expenditure, including agriculture and allied schemes, water supply and sanitation, rural development, power, forestry and wildlife, medical and public health, and education among other departments.

PM Modi to visit Ladakh's Drass on July 26 to mark 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas

LG Mishra asked the concerned officials to complete all necessary arrangements on time.

'PM Modi to attend 25th anniversary Kargil Vijay Diwas on Jul 26 in Ladakh'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Ladakh on July 26 to attend the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas, an official said on Sunday, as Lt Governor Brig (Retd) B D Mishra reviewed arrangements for the visit. The grand celebrations to mark the 'Rajat Jyanti' of India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 war are scheduled to be conducted at Drass in Kargil district from July 24 to 26. Mishra held a meeting at the Lt Governor's secretariat here to discuss the arrangements for the PM's visit to the Kargil War Memorial at Drass, an official spokesman said. The Lt Governor informed the meeting that Modi would be visiting the memorial on July 26 and attend the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas. The meeting discussed security and reception at the Drass helipad, necessary arrangements for his motorcade, the procedure for the wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial, interaction with war widows and preparation of the green room at the helipad, the spokesman said. He said th

Two soldiers lose lives while undertaking critical repair work in Ladakh

The Indian Army said that it regrets the loss of the brave soldier deployed in Ladakh

BRO seeks LG's intervention to complete work on border roads in Ladakh

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has sought intervention of the Ladakh Lt Governor Brigadier (Retd) B D Mishra to complete several border road projects after the work was suspended on the directions of the wildlife department in the Union territory, an official said on Wednesday. Chief Engineer, Project Vijayak, Brigadier Vinay Bahl and Chief Engineer, Project Himank, Brigadier Vishal Srivastava raised the issue of the suspended work with the Lt Governor after they called on him here, the official said. Briefing Mishra about the construction of new roads along with the widening of existing roads in the border areas of Ladakh, the delegation informed him about the clearance taken by them from the wildlife board for the construction and widening of these roads. Brig Bahl informed about the direction received from the wildlife department of Ladakh to stop the construction and widening of the road. He apprised the Lt Governor of the issues faced by them in completing the said project ..

Take nation into confidence on border situation at LAC: Kharge to govt

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday reiterated his party's demand that the government must take the nation into confidence on the situation at the border with China. Kharge shared a media report on X which cited satellite images to claim that China's military is digging in for the long haul in the area around Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh, having constructed underground bunkers to store weapons and fuel and hardened shelters for armoured vehicles at a key base in the region. "How can China build a military base near Pangong Tso on land which was under Indian occupation until May 2020," Kharge said. While there was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the Centre on Kharge's post, the ruling party and government have in the past rejected all allegations on the issue by the Congress. India has asserted with China the importance of achieving "complete disengagement" from the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh for restoring peace and tranquillity. In his post, Kharge said,

Five soldiers including JCO swept away while crossing river in Ladakh

Five soldiers of the Army are feared drowned after they were swept away while crossing a river in a T-72 tank near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Nyoma-Chushul area in Ladakh early Saturday, officials said. They said the incident occurred near Mandir Morh, 148 kilometres from here, during an exercise around 1 am. The T-72 tank with five soldiers on board sank due to flash floods while they were crossing the river, the officials said. A rescue operation has been launched. Further details are awaited.

68% of candidates in J-K's 5 Lok Sabha seats polled fewer than NOTA votes

Sixty-eight per cent of the total 100 candidates in the fray on Jammu and Kashmir's five Lok Sabha seats polled fewer than None Of The Above (NOTA) votes, according to Election Commission data. Cumulately, 34,788 voters pressed the NOTA button in the five seats, showing their rejection of the candidates fielded by parties. The maximum 12,938 NOTA votes were polled in the Udhampur constituency of Jammu region, a seat retained by BJP candidate Jitendra Singh. There were 11 other candidates in the fray from Udhampur, and NOTA polled more votes than nine of them. In the neighbouring Jammu seat, 4,645 voters pressed the NOTA button, which is more than votes individually garnered by 18 candidates. There were 22 candidates in the fray from the seat which has been retained by the BJP's Jugal Kishore. In the Srinagar seat, the number of NOTA votes was 5,998. There were 24 candidates in the fray from the constituency and most of them -- 18 -- got fewer votes than NOTA. In the Anantnag-Rajo

Over 400 Agniveer recruits join army at passing out parade in Ladakh

As many as 402 well trained Agniveer recruits were inducted into the Ladakh Scouts regiment of the Army at a passing out parade here on Tuesday, a defence spokesperson said. The ceremony conducted in consonance with the highest traditions of the Army was reviewed by Chief of Staff, headquarters 14 Corps, Maj Gen Dinesh Kumar Singh and was attended by a spectrum of distinguished military officers, civil dignitaries and parents of Agniveers, the spokesperson said. He said six young Agniveers were awarded medals during the parade for their outstanding achievements in training. 'Gaurav Padak' was presented to the proud parents whose wards have joined the regiment as Agniveers, the spokesperson said, adding that it was indeed a proud moment for the kin of the recruits, who had arrived from far flung areas to witness the grand ceremony. In his address to the young recruits, Maj Gen Singh congratulated them for the impressive parade and urged them to devote their life in service to the .

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Independent candidate wins Ladakh constituency

Independent candidate Mohmad Haneefa won the Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency, defeating his nearest Congress rival Tsering Namgyal by a margin of 27,906 votes, Returning officer Santosh Sukhadeve said. Haneefa secured 65,303 votes against his Congress rival's 37,397 votes. The BJP's Tashi Gyalson bagged 31,956 votes in the triangular contest, Sudhadeve told reporters. Haneefa, a former district president of the National Conference, is the fourth independent to win the seat since it was constituted in 1967. The seat was won by Independents in 1989, 2004 and 2009 general elections. The BJP won the seat in the 2014 general elections and retained it in 2019. The Congress has won the seat the maximum six times, while the National Conference emerged victorious from the seat twice in the past.

Phase 5 of Lok Sabha elections 2024: What was the voter turnout at 11 am?

In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, 49 out of 543 constituencies went to polls in six states and two Union Territories. Votes will be counted on June 4

LS elections 2024: Sixth schedule, employment key issues in Ladakh

As Ladakh votes to elect its MP for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, safeguards under the sixth schedule, statehood and employment are the key issues in the two distant districts of the constituency that is the largest in the country in terms of area. Spread over more than 59,000 square kilometres -- around 40 times the size of Delhi -- the two districts of Leh and Kargil are divided by geography and religion. Buddhist-dominated Leh and Shia Muslim-majority Kargil have come together over four demands -- safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Constitution, statehood, reservation in jobs for locals and a separate public service commission and two Lok Sabha seats for the region. After the abrogation of Article 370, Ladakh, which shares its border with both Pakistan and China, was carved out as a Union Territory without legislature. While Leh welcomed the move initially, people in Kargil were unhappy about the split. However, soon the concerns .

Ladakh united on statehood despite division on polls, says Buddhist leader

Even as the Lok Sabha elections for the Ladakh appear to be divided on regional basis, it will not affect the unity over the demands for statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, said Chering Dorjay Lakruk, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA). A three-cornered election in Ladakh, with the BJP and the Congress candidates from Leh and an Independent nominee from Kargil, gives an edge to the Kargil candidate. In an interview with PTI, Lakruk stressed the need for safeguards to protect the land and culture of Ladakh, and also raised concerns over the pasture lands, used for grazing by the local nomadic tribes, being taken over by China. LBA, a prominent social and religious organisation of Ladakh, has had a key role in developing a consensus on the need for the Sixth Schedule. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with provisions for the administration of the tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Founded in

BJP went back on Sixth Schedule promise, will continue movement: Wangchuk

In March this year, Leh, known for its breathtaking landscapes and monasteries, made headlines as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk led a 21-day fast in sub-zero temperatures seeking autonomy for Ladakh. Thousands joined the Ramon Magsaysay Award winner whose life inspired actor Aamir Khan's character Rancho in Bollywood blockbuster "3 Idiots". After ending his fast on March 26, Wangchuk began a sit-in which was called off on May 10 in view of the Lok Sabha elections. Though the government did not accede to the protesters' demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, Wangchuk says the movement is anything but over. "On one hand, land is going to corporations and on the other hand, China is capturing our land, thousands of square kilometres of land. People of the country need to understand our pain," Wangchuk told PTI. "The Sixth Schedule is required to protect the mountains, glaciers and ecology. Though it is required in the whole ...

Ladakh row: Hope there is resolution of remaining issues, says Jaishankar

As the eastern Ladakh military standoff entered its fifth year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India hopes for a resolution of the remaining issues with China and asserted that a return to normal bilateral ties hinges on peace and tranquillity at the border. In an exclusive interview to PTI, he said the remaining issues mainly pertained to "patrolling rights" and "patrolling abilities". Specifically asked when a resolution to the row can be expected in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks to Newsweek magazine last month, Jaishankar said he only provided a "big picture" viewpoint on the matter. "We would hope that there is a resolution of the remaining issues out there. These issues mainly pertain to patrolling rights and patrolling abilities there," he said. "I would not link it to the prime minister's interview per se. I think the prime minister was giving a big picture viewpoint and his big picture viewpoint was a very reasonable viewpoint which is

'Extreme' solar storm hits Earth: Rare red auroral arc graces Ladakh's sky

A crimson glow lit up the dark sky in parts of Ladakh in a rare stable auroral red arc event at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in the high Himalayas due to the strong solar magnetic storms launched towards Earth. The solar storms or coronal mass ejections are from the AR13664 region of the sun that has produced several high energy solar flares, some of which are travelling towards Earth at a speed of 800 km/s, scientists at the Centre of Excellence in Space Sciences in India (CESSI), Kolkata, said. Spectacular auroras or northern lights lit up the skies in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere as skywatchers from Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark and Poland shared pictures and short videos of the dancing lights on social media. In Ladakh, astronomers at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve saw a red glow on the northwest horizon in the sky from about 1 am on Saturday that continued till early dawn. "We were fortunate to witness Aurora activities on our all-sky camera dur

LS polls: Only Modi govt can fulfill pending issues of Ladakh, says Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said all pending issues of Ladakh would be fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and exhorted the people to vote for the BJP in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. BJP candidate Tashi Gyalson is locked in a three-cornered contest from the Ladakh seat. The Congress has fielded Tsering Namgyal, while the KDA has put up prominent leader Haji Haneefa Jan who is contesting as an independent. The fate of all three candidates will be sealed during the fifth phase of elections on May 20. The Lok Sabha elections here are taking place amid resentment among the locals over the deadlock in talks between the local representatives and the Central government. The dialogue between the joint representatives of Leh-based Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Union Home Ministry hit the deadlock in March after the Centre refused to accept the demand for statehood and sixth schedule of the Constitution for the Union Territory. a