‘Centre not against statehood ask’

{ INTERVIEW } KAVINDER GUPTA, LADAKH LT GUV

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Kavinder Gupta, 65, who took oath as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh last week, is the first political figure to hold the top job since the strategic region was carved out as a Union Territory from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in August 2019. Ina telephonic interview with Hindustan Times, Gupta, a former deputy chief minister of J&K, listed bringing Ladakh on the world map for tourism, addressing unemployment and boosting infrastructure as his priorities, exuding confidence in his ability to deal witha longstanding demand for statehood and Constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. Edited excerpts:

You have been appointed at atime when the people of Ladakh are demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (that deals with the administration of tribal areas). Though the Centre has the last word on both issues, how are you going to address these sensitive issues?

Talks are already on. The Centre isnot against their demands buta decision will be made after careful thought. The Centre has already given them five new districts, with the count (of dis-