- Fight Extremist Narratives Collectively : LG Sinha To J&K People
“LG Sinha warned against extremist narratives on social media, particularly by The Resistance Front (TRF), calling them a serious threat to the region’s peace. Pahari tribal community in Srinagar, he urged citizens to remain vigilant, noting that even unintentional sharing of divisive content could destabilise harmony after decades of violence. Pakistan’s use of proxy terror and radicalisation, while pointing out that local recruitment into terror ranks has sharply declined. He stressed that the region is shifting focus toward education, business, infrastructure, and social development, with communities playing a key role in safeguarding peace.”
By Mohammad Irfan
Warning that “narratives pushed by The Resistance Front (TRF) on social media pose a grave danger,” Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha this week said extremist propaganda must be countered collectively by society, asserting that terrorism cannot be allowed to find space in any form. Addressing a gathering of the Pahari tribal community at Tagore Hall in Srinagar, Sinha said Pakistan-backed attempts to distort public discourse continue even as the Union Territory witnesses a marked shift from years of violence to stability. “If the same language, the same lines that appear on TRF handles are echoed even unknowingly by people here, it becomes dangerous,” Sinha warned, urging citizens to remain cautious of divisive content online that seeks to inflame sentiments or undermine public trust in security institutions. “We have lost more than 40,000 lives to terrorism. Mothers were widowed, families shattered. We cannot allow this to resurface in any form,” he added with emotion, stressing that decades of pain must serve as a collective reminder of what extremist ideologies can cost a society.
Pakistan’s Proxy War, The Decline In Terror Recruitment: Recalling Pakistan’s “four failed wars and decades of proxy conflict,” the LG said the neighbouring country had realised long ago that it could not defeat India militarily and instead resorted to radicalisation and cross-border terror. “After 1947 they attacked us directly, and when they failed, they turned to indirect war. They misled and provoked people here,” Sinha said. He highlighted that the situation has significantly changed in recent years, with local recruitment into terror ranks sharply declining. “By September, local recruitment was down to nearly 25 youths. Street violence, school closures, shutdowns — those days are gone. Today we are talking about colleges, businesses, roads, and peace,” Sinha said, describing the transition as the outcome of “unprecedented coordination between security forces and the community.” Calling terrorism one of the “three biggest obstacles” to India’s progress, Sinha identified corruption and societal apathy as the other two. “One attitude we must change is: ‘Let Bhagat Singh be born in someone else’s house, not mine.’ Every citizen has to reflect on what have we given back to the country that gave us respect, identity and opportunity,” he said, urging civil society to act as partners in peace rather than passive observers. “The security forces are doing their job, but as citizens, we must ensure we don’t become party to anything that enables such incidents. Even an unverified forward on social media can strengthen the hands of those who seek to disturb our peace,” he said.
Post-2019 Reforms| Empowerment, Inclusion: Turning to governance and rights, Sinha said the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 marked “a decisive change” for marginalised groups. “For the first time since Independence, 890 central laws became applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. The Right to Education Act, the Minimum Wages Act, laws protecting safai karamcharis, provisions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities — all came into force only after 2019,” he said. He added that the Forest Rights Act, delayed for 14 years in J&K, was implemented after 2019 and accelerated in 2021. “Water, forest and land — these are the rights of tribal communities and the Government of India has ensured this legally,” he said. The LG pointed out that political reservation has now been extended to marginalised groups. “After a long wait, seats have been reserved and empowerment has begun. No one can now deny you access to jobs, education or political space,” he said, adding that social justice and inclusivity were the cornerstones of India’s democratic system. Sinha said the grant of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste status was rooted in constitutional guarantees. “Our Constitution makers believed that socially and politically weaker groups must get reservation and equal status in society. That is the real strength of this country,” he said.
Appeal for Unity, Guarding Against Divisive Politics: Responding to issues raised by community representatives, Sinha said no benefit granted to any group comes at the cost of another. “No one has been deprived of reservation so that there is no discrimination. But some will continue to provoke for political reasons. My appeal is to maintain brotherhood with every community,” he said. He acknowledged demands related to the Pahari Advisory Board, management rights, hostel facilities and forestry issues, saying these would be addressed in due course. “No right given to you can be diluted. But some things require internal effort too,” he advised. Warning against political manipulation, Sinha said, “Some people will try to divide society for their own interest. We must not become part of that. We need brotherhood, not fragmentation.” He added that Jammu and Kashmir must remain vigilant against “poisonous propaganda” from across the border. “We have reached a stage where stone pelting is history. Do not let the poison of propaganda undo this peace,” he said.
Development, Governance, And Tribal Empowerment: On development, Sinha said the administration has moved beyond outdated models of state-run tourism infrastructure. “Earlier it was believed that building TRCs and government hotels would boost tourism. The country has changed. Where governments stepped back and enabled the private sector, growth accelerated,” he said. He highlighted that budgetary support for tribal welfare has risen sixfold in four years. “Scholarships, hostels and employment schemes are being expanded without any discrimination. The Forest Fund Self-Help Groups were set up in 2022 to empower tribal women,” he said, adding that the PM’s Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana and migratory population surveys were underway to strengthen livelihood opportunities. Calling for “saturation with honesty,” he said implementation must match intention. “You waited long. Now the rights must reach you in letter and spirit,” he said, urging communities to actively monitor welfare schemes and maintain direct communication with officials. Sinha invoked the legacy of Birsa Munda, whose 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated nationwide. “The tribal community worships him as a deity. The nation is indebted to his role in the freedom movement,” he said, emphasizing that India’s indigenous heritage was a pillar of its identity. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with lifting 25 crore Indians out of poverty and transforming India into the world’s fourth-largest economy. “Social justice that was talked about for years is now visible on the ground,” he said.
Gandhian Ideals , Duty Towards The Nation: In a separate address marking Gandhi Jayanti at SKICC, the Lieutenant Governor urged the youth to follow Gandhian ideals of truth, service and self-reliance, and to strengthen the spirit of Swadeshi in nation-building. “India needs commitment to duties as much as rights,” he said. Sinha began his speech with anecdotes from Mahatma Gandhi’s life, recalling how Gandhi insisted on physical labour and made even scholars and lawyers join him in basic work like grinding grain and cleaning tools. “Gandhi believed every service must be done with responsibility,” Sinha said, adding that duties form the true foundation of rights. He praised Gandhi’s global influence, saying, “There is no language in which Gandhi’s life and his experiment with truth have not been written.” Referring to the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement, he said Gandhi united lawyers, farmers, students and teachers without modern communication tools — proof of his moral power. Sinha quoted Gandhi’s famous line: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” He said the LG administration’s focus on cleanliness, public health, and community service drew inspiration from Gandhi’s ideals. “The spirit of service, cleanliness and community participation has grown across J&K and the country, especially since 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the Swachh Bharat movement into a people’s movement,” he noted. He reminded citizens that Gandhi had written in 1925 that “rights arise only from the fulfilment of duties.” Sinha added, “If we all follow our duties, there will be no need to demand rights.” Quoting the Mahabharata, he said true service lies in helping humanity without desire for reward, heaven or recognition. “It is the duty of government officials, organisations and every citizen to serve the poor and the destitute,” he said.
Swachhata Vijayotsav, Sustainable Rural Development: Continuing his focus on service and rural upliftment, the Lieutenant Governor addressed the Swachhata Vijayotsav organised under the Sewa Parv in Jammu. He reaffirmed his commitment to bridging the gap between rural and urban J&K and to ensuring prosperity through inclusive development. “The truest evidence of the Central Government’s commitment to J&K can be seen in performance over the last 5–6 years,” he said, adding that cleanliness drives are vital for public health, environmental balance, and community well-being. “Initiatives under Education, Social Welfare, Rural Development, and Healthcare are integral to building a just and inclusive society. We must push through challenges to achieve the goals of prosperous rural J&K,” he said. The LG directed officials to launch a dedicated environmental protection awareness campaign for rural J&K. “Sewa Parv should not be viewed in isolation. It must be integrated into life. We must work towards creating a unified national identity to ensure the welfare and prosperity of all,” he said. Calling for public participation, he urged citizens to report encroachments on water bodies and natural resources to authorities. “Let us unite to rebuild a stronger, more secure future,” he said, while laying cornerstones for GOBARdhan Biogas Plants and Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). Sinha interacted with Safai Mitras and felicitated Swachhagrahis for their contribution to cleanliness drives. He also released a documentary on Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2025, highlighting best sanitation practices adopted during the pilgrimage.
“The LG emphasised that terrorism and divisive propaganda can only be countered through collective vigilance, civic responsibility, and inclusive development. Post-2019 reforms, including the extension of laws and tribal empowerment, have strengthened the tools to resist extremism. Looking ahead, Sinha called for unity, adherence to Gandhian values, and active participation in governance. Peace in J&K, he said, must be defended both in society and minds, ensuring the region’s transition from conflict to lasting stability.”
Kashmir Horizon View: As Jammu and Kashmir continues its transition from conflict to confidence, Sinha underscored that peace must not be taken for granted. “We have entered an era where stone pelting and hartals are history. Development, education and dignity are the new identity of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. But he cautioned that the danger of extremist propaganda persists. “Those sitting across the border will continue to exploit social media and misinformation. It is our collective duty to resist it — not with anger, but with awareness and unity,” he said. He concluded with an appeal for resilience and responsibility: “When we meet again, I hope it will be in an even better atmosphere — with less fear, more progress, and stronger bonds among communities. Terrorism has no religion, no justification, and no place in the new Jammu and Kashmir.” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s addresses this week reflected a consistent message — peace cannot be sustained by force alone; it must be nurtured through awareness, civic responsibility, and equal opportunity. His warning about the “narratives of TRF” underscored that while the visible face of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has declined, its invisible machinery — propaganda, misinformation, and psychological manipulation — continues to target the young and impressionable. The real challenge now lies not on the streets but in the digital space, where the battle for minds and perceptions is being fought daily. At the same time, Sinha’s emphasis on development, Gandhian values, and rural empowerment illustrates the administration’s long-term strategy — to replace alienation with agency and dependency with self-reliance. Clean villages, stronger institutions, inclusive governance and economic justice are not merely welfare goals; they are instruments to secure peace from within.
(“Team Kashmir Horizon” is committed to continuous improvement and invites feedback and suggestions from readers and its followers on social media sites. Reader insights are considered vital for enhancing content quality and empowering the community. The team encourages open communication and values the thoughts and ideas of its audience, believing that such input will enable them to serve the public more effectively. The initiative aims to ensure that readers have the best possible experience with “Kashmir Horizon”. Interested individuals can reach out to us via email at [email protected].)
