SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday assured the people of Ladakh that the region’s “pristine beauty, traditions, culture, language and heritage” will be protected. Mr Malik said the Union Territory (UT) status for Ladakh “will open new doors for employment and development in the region”.

He said that the Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has always been considerate to aspirations of Ladakh and fulfilled them as promised.

Mr Malik  while inaugurating the four-day Ladakh Festival, 2019 at Leh’s Pologrounds said that Ladakh’s exclusive landscape and people who are deeply rooted in their traditions and culture have always pulled him towards the region.

He said that like majority of them who follow tenets of Buddhism, he is also a believer in Mahatma Buddha’s philosophy which preaches ultimate peace. The Governor complimented the people for getting Union Territory status for Ladakh.

He remarked that he and his administration will always work for development of Ladakh and observed that even when he is not at the helm of affairs, he will continue to work as its goodwill ambassador.