Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Oct 31
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the abrogation of Article 370 had expanded access to rights and opportunities for ordinary citizens, describing the changes since 2019 as a major shift in the region’s political and security landscape.
In a message marking the eighth Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Foundation Day, Sinha said the constitutional changes had helped strengthen national integration, democratic participation and development.
He also paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary and congratulated people across the Union Territory.
Sinha said the establishment of grassroots democratic institutions and the conduct of Assembly elections had increased public participation and accountability.
He credited farmers, teachers, scholars, artists, artisans, traders, workers, security personnel, women and young people with contributing to the region’s development.
“The abrogation of Article 370 gave ordinary citizens freedom from fear and access to rights denied for decades,” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir had emerged as a model of peace, development and governance.
The Lieutenant Governor said security conditions had improved, claiming that more than 780 terrorists had been killed since 2020 and local recruitment and stone-pelting had ended.
He also said authorities had intensified action against drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, with thousands of alleged smugglers and peddlers arrested during the year.
Sinha said the administration’s priorities included employment generation, youth empowerment, agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism, environmental protection and women’s empowerment.
He called for greater investment in skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and sports to prepare young people for changes in the global economy.
The Lieutenant Governor also stressed the need to modernise agriculture, promote climate-resilient practices and improve value addition in the sector.
He said development must reach every village and community, adding that public trust depended on accountability, justice and effective delivery of services.
Sinha also called for the safe and dignified return of displaced communities, saying rebuilding social trust required collective efforts.
He said his vision was for Jammu and Kashmir to become a prosperous region by 2047, with a modern economy, quality healthcare, strong educational institutions and a vibrant cultural heritage.
Earlier, he administered the unity pledge and flagged off a Run for Unity to mark Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. A documentary on Jammu and Kashmir’s development journey was also screened.
Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, attended the function.
