The Congress party on Friday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Ladakh, saying that he was basking in the glory of the Piprahwa relics while remaining silent on the genuine demands of the people, including statehood, Sixth Schedule status, and job reservations.
Congress general secretary, in-charge of communication, Jairam Ramesh, recalled India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s July 1949 visit to Ladakh.
In a post on X on Friday, Ramesh said, “The HM is in Ladakh today basking in the glory of the Piprahwa relics while remaining silent on the demands of the people there for statehood, Sixth Schedule status, and protection of land and employment.”
Taking a swipe at the Home Minister, Ramesh said “Shah appears to be unaware of earlier such events in Ladakh.” He recalled that on January 14, 1949, the sacred relics of Buddha’s two chief disciples — Sariputta and Maha Moggallana Arahants — which had been taken by the British from the Sanchi Stupa in 1851 and kept at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, were received back by Nehru and handed over to the Mahabodhi Society of India in Kolkata.
Ramesh also said Nehru visited Ladakh four days after the passage of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, during which venerable Kushok Bakula Rinpoche requested him to send the relics to Ladakh as well.
The Congress on Thursday had questioned the Central government’s silence on critical demands of Ladakhis and asked the Centre to clarify its stance on statehood, job reservations, and constitutional guarantees under the Sixth Schedule. Shah arrived in Ladakh on Thursday to attend the first-ever international exposition of holy relics of Lord Buddha in India.
Also read: Amit Shah arrives in Ladakh for Buddha relics event
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