Vice President CP Radhakrishnan to participate in International Yoga Day in Ladakh

Srinagar: Vice president CP Radhakrishnan arrived in Leh on a three-day visit to the Union Territory of Ladakh to participate in the International Yoga Day celebrations.

He was accorded a welcome at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport in Leh where he was received by lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, Lok Sabha member Mohammad Haneefa and other senior officials.

“It is an honour and a pleasure to welcome Vice President of India, C.P. Radhakrishnan ji, to Ladakh on his first visit to this beautiful land,” Saxena said in a post on X.


Also read | World Bank clears India reform, jobs package

The vice president’s presence ahead of the International Day of Yoga 2026 is truly inspiring, he said, adding, “As we gear up to celebrate the timeless wisdom of yoga, his guidance, vision and leadership will motivate us to embrace a healthier, more balanced and harmonious way of life.”

Officials said the vice president will remain in Ladakh till June 21 and will participate in a series of programmes here, including International Yoga Day on Sunday. The event is likely to witness participation of youngsters, armed forces, government officials and members of social and religious organisations.

Radhakrishnan is scheduled to travel to Lukung village, where he will interact with local self-help groups and review developmental initiatives being implemented in the border region under the Vibrant Villages Programme. He will also pay tributes at the War Memorial.

Meanwhile, the Ladakh lieutenant governor has ordered a strict ban on the sale and use of “single-use plastics”, along with a complete crackdown on littering, across Ladakh, a move to protect the region’s fragile ecology and pristine landscapes.

Also read | India prepares to tap into one of the largest rare earth reserves

“The new framework provides for hefty penalty for littering and plastic-related violations... Random checks will be conducted at the Leh Airport and border/entry points of Ladakh, for single-use plastic items,” said Saxena.

The lieutenant governor said Ladakh's pristine environment is its greatest strength and the foundation of its tourism economy. As the government strives to develop Ladakh into a world-class tourist destination, development must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility, he said.