National Desk, 18th August: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Ladakh has been extended until August 25, as per party sources. This extension is to commemorate his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday on August 20. The celebration will take place at the picturesque Pangong Lake.
This visit marks Rahul Gandhi’s first trip to Ladakh since the region was transformed into a Union Territory in 2019. He is scheduled to visit the Kargil Memorial and engage in an interaction with local youth. The Congress leader’s itinerary also includes watching a football match in Leh, harkening back to his college days when he played the sport.
Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi will attend the meeting of the 30-member Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) – Kargil elections on August 25. The Congress has joined hands with the National Conference in a pre-poll alliance against the BJP for the Kargil council polls, set to take place on September 10.
Arriving in Ladakh on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi was met with a warm reception from party leaders and workers at the Leh airport. While he had previously visited Srinagar and Jammu this year, this trip marks his long-awaited journey to Ladakh.