We have noted with much satisfaction that the NDA Government is seized of concern for Ladakh development and border security. The PLA have tried to instill sort of fear psychosis among our civilian population in Ladakh and test our strength repeatedly. The behavior of PLA has been inconsistent and undependable. China is up for some sort of mischief in the area. In particular, since China wants to connect Gilgit and Baltistan through railway, and survey for the project is already completed, it wants to make sure that India does not overlook the Highway and the contemplated railway track at any place. China is not catering to her trade interests only; she is equally trying to keep India away from coming close to the Karakorum Highway.
Ladakh is under focus of the Central Government ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the reins of the Government. He paid several visits personally to interact with the people. Recently the Home Minister was on three-day visit to Ladakh, and in fact, he spent one night in the camp of ITBP. Because of his personal visits to the difficult posts manned by the ITBP along the border with China, the Home Minister was convinced that some far-reaching decisions had to be taken to tell China that she should forget the dream of making inroads deep into our territory under the pretext of un-demarcated border. The Home Minister has made the historic decision of raising separate new Command of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Leh to boost strength and infrastructure of the paramilitary force. Its headquarters will be in Leh itself. The Government took the decision in view of a number of considerations, security and efficiency of meeting any challenge being the foremost of these. Actually, after the Kargil war, the Army was insisting on taking control of the Sino-Indian border in Ladakh and this had become an irritant at times. Previously, ITBP headquarter was located in Chandigarh. Tactically, it was not sound to keep the headquarter located at such a great distance. Hence, the shift was made. Now it will be somewhat easier for the Home Ministry to move men and material quickly to the border. A few days ago, the Home Minister had announced that the Government would build three important roads connecting Leh with the border. We are told that initiative towards the road building and raising of the ITBP Ladakh Command has already begun and the task will be completed within stipulated time.
All this, and the developmental activities undertaken by the Government in New Delhi augur well for the bright future of Ladakh. This region remained neglected for a long time but thanks to China, which bestirred the sleeping Ministry of Defence and the MHA and then began a flurry of visits from VVIPs to Ladakh and the crucial decisions of setting up over 40 modern Border Out Posts of the ITBP in the icy heights of Ladakh along with LAC with China.
That phase has gone once for all, thanks to realistic approach of the new Government in New Delhi. We hope that with the input underway in Ladakh in terms of military infrastructure and civilian developmental projects, in next five years Ladakh shall appear a distinctively more secure and more prosperous district in the country. As the two tunnels on Srinagar-Leh road are completed in next two years and Leh gets rail connectivity either through Zoji La or through Manali, the entire economic and social life of Ladakh will under go sea change. It is destined to become the most wanted destination of tourists all over the world. Home Minister deserves kudos for taking farsighted and quick decision and putting Ladakh on the map of very sensitive region of the country.
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