Pak spread terrorism in J&K under garb of Article 370: LG

Asserting that the Pakistan used Article 370 to spread terrorism, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said no talks will be held with Pakistan unless it does not reject and openly criticize terrorism.

“Article 370 denied due rights to our brothers and sisters and it was used by Pakistan to spread terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its abrogation ushered a new era of peace, progress and prosperity in J&K,” LG said while addressing a function here.

“The people of J&K always wanted peace, but the Pakistan’s exported terrorism and its sympathizers tried to destroy this paradise on earth. The situation has changed. The paradise on earth is now achieving new heights of development and there is greater ease of living in the lives of citizens,” he added.

He said terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is taking its last breath as its backbone has been completely broken.
“Some people are often batting for talks with Pakistan. They say security and normalcy cannot return here (Jammu and Kashmir) unless there are talks with them (Pakistan). I strongly reject this notion,” Sinha said.
“As per the policy of the government of India, there is no question of holding talks with Pakistan unless and until it doesn’t reject terrorism and criticise it openly,” the Lt Governor said.

They (some politicians) try to raise it by saying that that is the only right path, he added.

He lashed out at those “spilling blood of innocents on this land”.
Quoting Abhimanyu in Mahabharata, he said, “Security forces dismantled and broken six barricades of terrorism.

Now only the seventh barricade remains. I hope that this 7th barricade is broken fast.”
Asserting that peace and normalcy cannot be bought to Jammu and Kashmir through “bargaining”, Sinha said,

“GoI has a clear-cut policy that one cannot buy peace but it has to be established. We are following that.”
He said at one point in time “bargaining” was done to buy peace in Jammu and Kashmir. “That era has passed away. Now it is time to establish durable and long-lasting peace.”

“That time has gone when there were incidents of stone pelting (in the valley) and our neighbouring country used to issue calendars for strikes. Schools, colleges and universities used to remain shut,” he said.

Today, the common man is living in peace and earning his bread and butter in normalcy, the Lt Governor added.
“Security forces have been able to dismantle terror financing. Now houses are also being dismantled. This process will continue till the last sign of terrorism is wiped out here. We will be successful in ensuring peace, progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Sinha said some people used youths as cannon fodder to mislead them to engineer stone pelting and “give sacrifices”, while their children were studying in peace in other parts of the country and abroad.

Lives of thousands of people were lost and Kashmiri Pandits faced the worst as they had to flee their homes in the valley due to terrorism, he said.

However, there is change now. After a long time, youths are watching films in cinemas in Shopian and Pulwama districts, he added.

“At least 10,000 youths took out a tiranga yatra in Pulwama and raised Bharat Mata Ki Jai’logans, while 8,000 youths took out a yatra in Tral. This could not have been thought in the past. As many as 500 startups have been started in Kashmir,” Sinha said.

Hitting out at people raising questions on the administration and governance, he said they used to get personal benefits in the past. “Efforts are being made so that common people don’t face any problem. Some selected people who benefited from the governance should know that it is for general people but not for the select few. Such governance will continue here henceforth.”

Meanwhile, paying rich tributes to Dogra military general Zorawar Singh on his martyrdom anniversary, LG said that the Jammu and Kashmir is marching into its “golden age” with core values of people-first and ideas and ideals of forefathers.

Sinha sought full recognition of General Zorawar Singh’s contribution and significance in India’s history and said the new generation must be reminded of his military campaigns in Ladakh, Baltistan, and Tibet and his immense contribution to the Dogra empire’s expansion under Maharaja Gulab Singh.

After his successful campaigns in Ladakh, General Zorawar Singh boldly attempted the conquest of Western Tibet (Ngari Khorsum) but was killed in the battle of To-yo during the Dogra-Tibetan war, he said.

The Lt Governor was speaking at an event organised by General Zorawar Singh Memorial Educational and Charitable Trust to commemorate the martyrdom day of the General.

“General Zorawar Singh had envisioned a strong and prosperous J-K, in which every citizen can live a life of dignity and self-respect. We are committed to creating a prosperous and inclusive society,” Sinha said.

Speaking about the “transformational journey” of J-K, he said the Union Territory is marching into its “golden age” with core values of people-first and ideas and ideals of forefathers.

Sinha urged the people to discharge their responsibilities to accelerate the process of development.

Throwing light on the life and military campaigns of General Zorawar Singh, the Lt Governor said he was one of the greatest military commanders who made the country proud with his unparalleled bravery and military tactics.
“He is an icon for generations because his name evokes a strong feeling of love, reverence and sacrifice for the motherland. He will continue to inspire generations to come,” Sinha said.

“It should be our collective endeavour to fully recognise General Zorawar Singh’s contribution and significance in India’s history,” he said.

On the occasion, famous sculptor Ravinder Singh Jamwal and specially-abled power-lifter Anmol Bhardwaj were felicitated by the Lt Governor.