‘Day Not Far When…’: Jammu And Kashmir Minister Says Ladakh Will Become Part Of United J&K

Last Updated:January 06, 2026, 18:43 IST

Recalling that there was a time when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state, the minister said that the region has already faced multiple divisions.

Javed Rana, who holds the Jal Shakti, forest, ecology and environment, and Tribal Affairs portfolios, was responding to a question on the demands of a separate state for the Jammu region. (PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir minister Javed Rana on Tuesday said that the day is not far when Ladakh will once again become a part of a united Jammu and Kashmir.

While responding to a question on the demands of a separate state for the Jammu region, the erstwhile state’s Jal Shakti, forest, ecology and environment, and Tribal Affairs minister said that Ladakh would soon become a part of Jammu and Kashmir as the Centre does not have any other alternative.

“I believe that the day is not far when Ladakh will again become a part of Jammu and Kashmir, a united Jammu and Kashmir. The government of India does not have any other alternative," news agency PTI quoted Rana as saying.

Recalling that there was a time when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state, the minister said that the region has already faced multiple divisions and that further fragmentation is neither demanded by people nor sustainable.

“You (Centre) gave one part to Pakistan… Gilgit-Baltistan was also given to Pakistan. You then separated Ladakh from it. What remains with us is Jammu and Kashmir. Those who divided this land now want to make Kanak Mandi (an area in Jammu) a state as well," he said.

Rana said it was ironic that those responsible for earlier divisions were now speaking about creating new states. “What can we say… There has been no such demand from the Pir Panjal or the erstwhile Chenab regions. Who will stop if a state is carved out of Kanak Mandi in Jammu," he added.

The minister said there was no widespread public demand for such a move. “Tell me how many Pir Panjal regions are there? How many Chenab regions are there? There is no such demand coming from these areas," he said.

The Centre bifurcated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh – on August 5, 2019, when it also abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to the erstwhile state.

(With inputs from PTI)

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