“Development in the region cannot be held hostage to the debate over statehood, emphasising that the elected government already enjoys full powers to make decisions and implement policies. “Progress should not wait for politics. Calling upon leaders to replace rhetoric with results and focus on the welfare of the people.”
By Mohammad Irfan
Under the crisp autumn sky of Srinagar, the Union Territory Foundation Day celebrations unfolded with a mix of ceremony and conviction. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, addressing the gathering, sent out a clear message: development in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be held hostage to political debates or delayed aspirations for statehood. “Statehood will be restored at the right time,” Sinha said firmly, “but progress cannot wait.” His remarks came amid recurring political demands that restoration of statehood must precede any meaningful governance or development. The Lieutenant Governor, however, sought to separate the two, asserting that the elected government already has the authority to decide, implement, and deliver.
Challenging Political Excuses: Sinha’s address was both a commemoration and a reminder. Speaking at the SKICC, after flagging off the ‘Run for Unity’ and administering the national Unity Pledge to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary, he cautioned against what he called “political distractions” that risk slowing down the pace of transformation in the Union Territory. “When elections were held for the Legislative Assembly, everyone was aware that they were for the legislature of a Union Territory,” he said. “This excuse cannot be used that development will only happen when statehood is restored. The government has full powers to act, and public service must not be delayed on political grounds.” The remark was seen as an implicit response to parties who have frequently tied their participation in developmental or governance dialogues to the question of statehood. Sinha, however, argued that the administration’s responsibility transcends political boundaries and must stay focused on public welfare.
The Birth Of A ‘New Jammu and Kashmir’: Drawing a parallel between the 2019 reorganisation and the historical unification of India by Sardar Patel, the Lieutenant Governor described October 31 as a symbolic rebirth. “A new Jammu and Kashmir was born that day,” he said, “when walls of discrimination were torn down and constitutional equality was extended to all citizens.”
For decades, he noted, a small section of society controlled opportunities and access to rights. “A few people decided who would be treated as full citizens and who as half-citizens. They decided who could vote where, who could get a job, and who could not,” he observed. Sinha recalled that before 2019, even a soldier who shed blood for Kashmir could not own a home in the Valley. “Those days are over,” he said. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, he maintained, marked the first instance in independent India when laws passed by Parliament applied uniformly to the region, realising a dream “seven decades in the making.”
Reversing the Legacy Of Exclusion: The Lieutenant Governor placed particular emphasis on what he called “the restoration of constitutional equality.” He argued that the pre-2019 structure had created invisible hierarchies within society—between residents and non-residents, men and women, and those aligned or unaffiliated with traditional political power centres. “Half the population — our sisters and daughters — was deprived of rights that women across the rest of the country enjoyed,” he said. “After October 31, 2019, that injustice ended.”
According to him, the changes since reorganisation have gone beyond legal corrections to reshape the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. “The laws of Parliament, once withheld, are now lived realities,” he said. “It was not merely an administrative change but a moral one — a transformation that restored dignity to those long denied it.”
Terrorism And The Return Of Public Confidence: Sinha devoted a significant portion of his address to what he described as the weakening of terrorism in the region. “After October 31, 2019, terrorist incidents have declined sharply. The bravery and operational efficiency of our security forces have increased by 136 percent,” he said, adding that “operations — whether kinetic or direct — have broken the back of terrorism.” He pointed to a visible shift in public mood following recent incidents, including the Pahalgam attack. “People came out on the streets across towns and villages, declaring terrorism as the biggest enemy of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. “The day public support ends, terrorism begins to count its last breaths — and that process has begun.”
Sinha noted that the administration has acted firmly against those involved in supporting or abetting terror. “Around 80 such individuals have been dismissed from government service,” he said, adding that the campaign will continue until the “terror ecosystem” is entirely dismantled. He also highlighted a new focus on justice for victims of terrorism. “For decades, there were families who didn’t even get an FIR registered after losing loved ones,” he said. “Those very years saw individuals involved in terror acts holding government jobs. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, such victims are now getting justice, employment, compensation, and legal aid.”
‘From Passive Participation To Mass Action’: Beyond law and order, Sinha’s speech carried a note of civic responsibility. “If the common people step back, those who want to derail progress will take advantage,” he warned. The Lieutenant Governor called for “mass action” to build on the peace achieved in recent years and to strengthen public faith in democratic institutions. He cited the turnout in District Development Council (DDC), Lok Sabha, and Assembly elections as evidence of a participatory shift. “In remote villages, people campaign till late in the night. The new generation has forgotten stone pelting,” he said, portraying the transition from street unrest to electoral engagement as a defining change. According to him, democracy has not only taken root but is deepening its reach. “The fear once spread by the terror ecosystem has ended,” he said. “Today, hope, trust, and ambition have replaced alienation.”
A Push For Holistic Development: The Lieutenant Governor detailed a wide array of ongoing infrastructure and welfare initiatives. He said that projects worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore are underway in road and tunnel construction across Jammu and Kashmir. “The Union government has sanctioned ₹4,224 crore under PMGSY-IV for rural roads and another ₹10,637 crore for broader road networks,” he said. He cited the expansion of the railway line from Kanyakumari to Kashmir — including the Chenab Bridge, Anji Bridge, and Vande Bharat connectivity — as a “symbol of national integration through infrastructure.” The upcoming railway link, he added, will serve as a lifeline for farmers, enabling agricultural produce to reach wider markets. The Lieutenant Governor also pointed to advances in the power sector, industrial growth, and agriculture. He said the new ₹28,000 crore Industrial Development Scheme has “brought transformational change” by attracting private investment and creating jobs.
Agriculture As An Engine Of Growth: The centrepiece of Sinha’s developmental narrative remains the ₹5,013-crore Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), which he described as “a revolution in progress.” “The programme has benefited over 13 lakh farmers,” he said. “It has doubled cold storage capacity and is set to increase horticultural output by at least 2.5 times.” According to the administration, Kisan Credit Card coverage, which stood below 60 percent a few years ago, has now reached 100 percent. But for Sinha, HADP represents more than numbers. “It is not just about agriculture,” he said. “It’s about ushering in a yellow revolution in milk and mutton production and creating self-reliant villages.” The initiative, he said, aims to link traditional knowledge with modern technology to enhance productivity while preserving ecological balance.
Bridging The Past And Future: Sinha’s speech intertwined history, governance, and aspiration. He recalled that before 2019, funds sent by the Centre were “spent without accountability.” “The Indian Parliament had no right to ask where the money went,” he said, suggesting that the new governance framework ensures transparency and measurable outcomes. He located the present phase of development within a longer continuum of struggle for equality and justice. “From Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, many sacrificed for the complete unification of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. “When Parliament gave its consent on August 5, 2019, the people of Jammu and Kashmir realised how much had been sacrificed for equality and justice.” The Lieutenant Governor described the ongoing transformation as the “culmination of decades of hope” and “the beginning of a self-confident, forward-looking Jammu and Kashmir.”
Peace, Prosperity, People’s Role: At the heart of Sinha’s message lay a simple but forceful appeal — to view peace and development as complementary, not conditional. “Statehood will be restored at the appropriate time,” he reiterated, “but the work of progress, service, and reform cannot be postponed.” He emphasised that the true strength of Jammu and Kashmir now rests not in decrees or declarations, but in the everyday participation of its citizens — farmers, students, entrepreneurs, and women breaking new ground in business and public life. “Jammu and Kashmir is emerging among the top five performing economies in the country,” he said, attributing it to the combined effort of people and policy. “The future will be defined by unity, justice, and development.”
“The “rebirth” of the region was marked by equality, justice, and peace. He asserted that the removal of barriers and extension of constitutional rights had set the foundation for inclusive growth. From improved infrastructure and industrial revival to the empowerment of farmers and women, he said the Union Territory’s transformation was visible in every sector. “Our collective duty is to ensure that the journey of peace and prosperity never reverses.”
A Vision Beyond Politics: As the crowd dispersed after the Foundation Day ceremony and the “Run for Unity” concluded at the Botanical Garden, the symbolic message of the day lingered — that the path to prosperity lies not in waiting for political milestones, but in building on the ground achieved so far.
Sinha’s speech was both assertive and reflective, attempting to balance historical justification with contemporary momentum. His call for unity and collective action sought to bridge ideological divides and convert political fatigue into developmental energy. Whether viewed as administrative reassurance or political signalling, the underlying message was consistent: Jammu and Kashmir’s transformation, in the government’s view, is irreversible and inclusive.
Kashmir Horizon View : As October 31 — the date of J&K’s formal reorganisation — recurs each year, it serves as both a reminder and a measure. For the Lieutenant Governor, it marks the shift from isolation to inclusion, from governance by privilege to governance by participation. “October 31, 2019, marked the rebirth of Jammu and Kashmir,” he concluded. “A J&K of equality, peace, and progress. Our duty is to safeguard that spirit and ensure that development never stops.” In the cadence of his speech, there was an unmistakable mix of resolve and reassurance — that amid continuing political debates, the focus would remain on roads, railways, reforms, and, above all, people. For a region long accustomed to pauses, the message was unambiguous: in the new Jammu and Kashmir, progress must not wait for politics.
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