Jammu/ Srinagar:, May 2 -- Amid protracted agitation by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) over statehood and constitutional safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Constitution, Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that after 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government continue to accord top priority to the development of the union territory.

In this context, the home minister cited some figures to drive home his point.

"Before 2019 (when Article 370 was not revoked and J&K, including Ladakh, was one state), there were only 1,800 km roads in Ladakh but it has now gone up to 4,040 km, which means doubling the road network. Since 2019, the Centre has constructed a total of 72 bridges...