Leh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Centre is in dialogue with the committees representing Leh and Kargil to resolve the ongoing agitations in Ladakh. He also reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir will regain its statehood at an “appropriate time”.
Speaking at a media conclave in Patna, Shah assured that there would be a “good resolution” of the demands raised by the people of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
“We urge the people to have patience. There will be a good resolution of all their just demands,” he said, referring to the leadership of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which represent political and civil society groups from the region.
Responding to a question on the arrest of educator-turned-activist Sonam Wangchuk, Shah said he would not comment on individual cases. “As far as his case is concerned, the matter is before the court, which will take a decision based on the evidence at hand,” he said.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said the Union Territory has witnessed a “qualitative change” since the abrogation of Article 370.
“No local terrorist has been recruited in the last nine months. Earlier, Pakistan didn’t need to send terrorists across the border; they used to place arms in the hands of our children. Now the people of Jammu and Kashmir feel they belong to the entire country, and the entire country belongs to them,” he said.
He added that the government is continuing its “ruthless campaign” against Maoist insurgency, claiming that over 600 Maoist camps have been demolished in the last 11 years. Shah asserted that Maoism would be “completely wiped out by December 31, 2026”.
