Lieutenant Governor (LG) of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha on Saturday conveyed a message of optimism, highlighting the return of peace and prosperity to the region. Speaking at a Sadbhavana Conference on "Sufism and Kashmiriyat: An Example of Peace and Harmony," organised by the Indian Minority Foundation (IMF) in Srinagar, LG Sinha emphasised the collective responsibility to ensure that this era of peace endures, news agency PTI reported.
In his address, LG Manoj Sinha praised the heritage of Sufism and communal harmony in Kashmir, underlining the long history of goodwill and brotherhood in the region. However, he acknowledged that in recent decades, terrorism had overshadowed these positive aspects. He asserted that Kashmir is now witnessing positive changes and development, the report said.
As per the report, Sinha highlighted the substantial progress achieved in the valley over the past four years, with new opportunities for socio-economic development. He attributed this transformation to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
"Jammu and Kashmir is a holy land where different religions and cultures have flourished. But unfortunately, in the last three decades, this land has been plagued by violence and terrorism, in which our neighbouring country played an important role.
"It (Pakistan) tried unsuccessfully to disturb the peace and tranquillity in the valley. However, with the contribution of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, major changes are now being seen in Kashmir," Sinha was quoted as saying by PTI.
"Through his tireless efforts, our prime minister has developed and transformed the Kashmir Valley. Strikes that impacted schools, colleges, and businesses have ended. Stone pelting is now a thing of the past. Every citizen here lives his life according to his own desires. The good old days have returned to Kashmir, and the era of violence and terrorism has come to an end," he said.
On the other hand, Sinha said, "It is now our collective responsibility to ensure that this era of peace and prosperity continues forever and every citizen of Kashmir should contribute to the development of the country during the Amrit Kaal."
According to the PTI report, the LG further noted the government's commitment to ensuring that the benefits of welfare schemes and policies reach all corners of the country. He pointed out the government's policy of nondiscrimination and shared that minority communities' representation in central government jobs has increased significantly. He also highlighted the contributions of various schemes, such as the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and the PM Mudra Yojana, in uplifting minority communities.