Northlines Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 31: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that those who profited from separatism and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir had been exposed, asserting that peace had been established through a zero-tolerance policy rather than by buying it.
Addressing the 8th J&K UT Foundation Day function, Sinha said sustained action had crippled terror networks and restored normalcy across the Union Territory. He claimed that more than 780 terrorists had been eliminated since 2020, local militant recruitment had ended and stone-pelting incidents had been eradicated.
Extending greetings to the people on the occasion, which coincided with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the LG said the abrogation of Article 370 had strengthened national integration, equality and inclusive development. He said ordinary citizens had gained freedom from fear and access to rights that had been denied to them for decades.
Sinha said grassroots democratic institutions and the conduct of Assembly elections had expanded public participation and accountability. He also highlighted the continuing action against narco-terrorism, stating that thousands of drug smugglers and peddlers had been arrested and their illicit assets attached.
Outlining priorities for the coming years, he stressed employment generation, youth empowerment, agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism, women’s empowerment and transparent governance. He also called for greater focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, sports and modern agricultural practices.
Sharing his vision for 2047, Sinha said he wanted Jammu and Kashmir to emerge as a model of prosperity, with a modern economy, world-class healthcare, quality education and a vibrant cultural heritage. He also stressed the need for harmony, social trust and the dignified return of displaced communities.
Earlier, the LG administered the Unity Pledge and flagged off the Run for Unity to mark Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. A documentary highlighting Jammu and Kashmir’s development journey was also screened.
LG hits back at Farooq’s praise of Pakistan
Srinagar, Oct 31: A week after National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s remarks on Pakistan triggered a political storm, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday took an apparent dig at the NC leader, questioning why some people were highlighting Pakistan instead of India’s achievements and global standing.
Addressing the 8th Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Foundation Day function here, Sinha, in an apparent reference to Farooq Abdullah, said, “Instead of India, we are talking about a country where there is a line for flour. Instead of India, where the glory of India has been established on every international stage of the world, we are talking about a failed country.”
He said people, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, had recognised those whom he accused of wanting to push Jammu and Kashmir back towards terrorism and violence.
“There is no place in J&K for those whose survival depended on separatism and the conflict industry,” he said, adding that ordinary people, especially in the Kashmir Valley, had now recognised such elements.
Pertinently, on October 24, Dr Farooq, while addressing an NC workers’ convention in Baramulla, had credited Pakistan’s repeated efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums with keeping it alive.
“Our neighbour is constantly after them. He goes everywhere saying that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved. He is protecting us; otherwise, their intentions are not good,” Farooq had said.
He had also stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had never denied their Indian identity and had repeatedly affirmed their accession to India.