Kashmir Impulse Desk

Leh, April 30 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Ladakh on Thursday for a two-day visit during which he will attend an international exposition of sacred Buddhist relics and review development and security issues in the region, officials said.

Shah was received at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and accorded a ceremonial welcome. 

Member of Parliament Muhammad Haneefa, along with political, religious and administrative officials, was also present.

During the visit, Shah is scheduled to pay respects to relics associated with Gautama Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, which falls on Friday. 

The relics are part of what officials described as the first international exposition of their kind in Ladakh.

He will also lay the foundation stone for a dairy plant with a capacity of 10,000 litres per day in Kargil and take part in related development programmes.

Ahead of the visit, Shah said he would attend the exposition as a “moment of profound good fortune”, noting that devotees from across the world would gather to venerate the relics.

The visit comes as the federal government approved the creation of five new districts in Ladakh – Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang – increasing the total number of districts in J&K to seven. 

The move is aimed at improving governance and service delivery in remote and border areas.

Officials said Shah is also expected to review administrative matters, including border management and security preparedness, and hold meetings with local authorities and Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel.

The relics, brought to Leh earlier this week aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft, will be displayed for public viewing at multiple locations across Ladakh through mid-May before being returned to New Delhi.