New Delhi: After the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir in 2 Union Territories, the region is getting its due. While new picturesque locations in the valley are being added to tourist hotspots for promoting tourism in the region, the UT of Ladakh is also witnessing renewed focus for development.
Under direct watch of Centre, Union Territory of Ladakh is witnessing the beginning of new projects, promising plenty of employment opportunities.
In yet another sign of good governance, a football stadium is being built in Leh, located about 11,000 ft height from sea level.
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The state-of-the art football stadium is in advanced stage and is likely to open soon. Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had laid the foundation stone for various sports facilities including synthetic track & astroturf for football in September last year.
Great day for sports in Ladakh!
Laid foundation stone for Synthetic Track & Astro Turf for Football and Gymnasium Hall at NDS Stadium in Leh.
Within short time, these projects are initiated to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Ladakh & commitment of PM @narendramodi Ji. pic.twitter.com/o4MytZX762— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 14, 2020
Rijiju had also proposed awards category for promotion of sports in the region while Ladakh LG RK Mathur had invited countrymen to visit the UT in winters and participate in games.
Nehruism Vs Nationalism debate over football stadium
The football stadium has evoked strong reactions on Twitter, with many comparing Modi govt’s good governance vs Nehru’s ‘ignorance’ of Ladakh.
Manoj Kotak, Parliamentarian from Mumbai N-E seat, took to Twitter and shared how Nehru regime ‘ignored and ill-treated’ an inalienable part of the country.
Nehru VS Modi . pic.twitter.com/AijCnBz57U
— Manoj Kotak (@manoj_kotak) September 3, 2021
A range of Twitter users also took dig at Nehru regime over his alleged comments that not a blade of grass grows in Ladakh.
Nehru called Ladakh a piece of barren land. Today, when the power is in the right direction, new dimensions of development are being prepared in the same Ladakh. A football stadium is under construction in Leh at an altitude of over 11,000 feet.
Best example of good governance pic.twitter.com/iUdFxkVHgn— Anchal Singh Chib?? (@BharatiyaAnchal) September 2, 2021
Ladakh on wheels of development!
Work on football Astro Turf, and synthetic tracks in Leh Stadium is in full swing.
Dept. of Sports, #Ladakh all set to dedicate the state-of-the-art facility to the people in a month. pic.twitter.com/iNFy9FllMX
— Prasar Bharati Ladakh (@PBLadakh) November 5, 2020
What Nehru had said on Ladakh
According to a portal theNews21.com, the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru said in Parliament on Dec 5, 1961, “not a blade of grass grows there”. He made the remarks during a debate on Aksai Chin in Rajya Sabha.
This was at a time when China was invading, infiltrating and occupying Ladakh (Aksai Chin).
“It is a territory where not even a blade of grass grows, about 17,000 feet high. Ladakh is a useless uninhabitable land. Not a blade of grass grows there. We did not even know where it was”, then PM Nehru had said.
Nehru’s remarks had invoked sharp rejoinder from Mahavir Tyagi who pointed to his bald head and wanted to know whether he too should treat it as useless?
