Grand welcome for Amit Shah in Leh; spiritual, development push on agenda

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Leh today to a grand and culturally vibrant welcome, with locals lining the roads in traditional attire to welcome him on his two-day visit to the Union Territory of Ladakh. He was received at the airport by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

People from all walks of life gathered outside the airport in large numbers, reflecting the region’s deep enthusiasm.

During his visit, Shah is scheduled to pay obeisance to the holy relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Purnima on Friday, adding a spiritual dimension to his tour.

Before leaving for Ladakh, Shah wrote on X yesterday “Tomorrow, will be leaving for Ladakh for a two-day visit. It is a moment of profound good fortune for me to be attending on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the first ever international exposition of the holy relics of Lord Buddha, commencing on the 1st of May. In this exposition devotees from different parts of the world will offer veneration to the relics of Lord Buddha”.

The Home Minister will also inaugurate a series of key initiatives at a programme to be held at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh on May 1, 2026. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena will also be present at the occasion.

The event will mark the inauguration and foundation-laying of multiple dairy infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing milk processing capacity, improving cold-chain systems, and expanding market linkages for local dairy farmers. The programme will also witness the launch of digital and institutional initiatives designed to modernise cooperative dairy operations in the region.

During the programme, the Home Minister will lay the foundation stone of a 10 TLPD dairy plant at Kargil and inaugurate new dairy processing units in Leh, including facilities for curd and paneer production. Additionally, a Bulk Milk Cooler system will be launched to strengthen milk storage and transportation infrastructure.

Further reinforcing the vision of digital empowerment in the cooperative sector, an Android-based Automated Milk Collection System (AMCS) application will be launched to streamline procurement processes and ensure transparency in payments to farmers.

The programme will also feature the flagging off of a mobile milk testing laboratory, aimed at ensuring quality assurance and supporting dairy farmers at the grassroots level. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between key stakeholders to enhance the marketing of dairy products under prominent brands, thereby improving market access and value realisation for local producers.