J&K: PM Modi arrives on a day-long visit
PM Narendra Modi arrived at Leh this morning on his day-long visit to the state after the Centre announced ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan. The PM will participate in the closing ceremony of the 101st birth anniversary of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. Modi will also unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Zojila tunnel.
Bakula was the only Monk diplomat in the world
Bakula was born in Matho on May 21, 1917, and educated at Geshes, Lhasa (Tibet). He died in 2003. He was elected as the MLA of Jammu and Kashmir in 1951 and as the MP representing Ladakh in 1967 and 1971. In 1989, he was appointed as India's ambassador to Mongolia which made him the first and only Monk diplomat in the world.
Bakula was felicitated with Mongolia's second highest civilian award
Over a period of ten years, Bakula helped reopen ancient monasteries, organize Buddhist peace conferences, and re-established Buddhism. He is fondly remembered as Elchin Bagsh (ambassador-teacher). In 2001, he was conferred the Polar Star award, Mongolia's second-highest civilian award. Bakula was seen as the force behind several political agitations in the region and was its voice all over the world.
Zojila tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to the region.
The 14k0m-long Zojila tunnel will be country's longest road tunnel and Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel. It will take only 15 minutes to ride through the 9 km Zoji La pass which usually takes four hours by car. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved the construction and maintenance of this tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg at a cost of Rs. 6,800 crore.
