We want Ladakh to be recognised globally as top tourism destination: LG Gupta after being sworn-in

Leh/Jammu, July 18: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta on Friday expressed his commitment to rebuilding the Union Territory with people's support, and said they want to take Ladakh to a level where its name will be recognised globally as a top tourism destination.

Gupta on Friday took oath as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. Earlier, he had held several key positions including those of deputy chief minister and Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

He was administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice Arun Palli, at a ceremony held at the Raj Niwas.

"I have been appointed here to the post of lieutenant governor. I want to assure the people of Ladakh that rising above religion, caste, and party politics, we will all work together to rebuild a new Ladakh," Gupta told reporters soon after taking over as lieutenant governor.

Gupta pointed towards discrimination with the region in the past and said, "There is still a lot to be done. There’s no doubt that Ladakh has faced a lot of discrimination in the past."

Spelling out his agenda for the development of the region, he said, "We want to take Ladakh to a level where its name will be recognised globally as a top tourism destination—just like those places in the world known for tourism, Ladakh’s name will also be counted among them."

MLA Vikram Randhawa, who took part in the oath ceremony, said it is fortunate for Ladakh and unfortunate for Jammu and Kashmir that such a person, "a true son of the soil of Jammu", has been appointed as the LG of Ladakh.

"He has taken charge as LG today. He is a leader with administrative skills, having served successfully as a three-time MLA from Jammu City, as deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and as Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly," he added.