SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said he is deeply impressed by the spirit of Hindu-Muslim unity of Jammu and Kashmir,
Addressing the august 15 function at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, Sinha said: “I am deeply impressed by the spirit of Hindu-Muslim unity of Jammu and Kashmir and this has been saying best by Kashmiris poetess saint, Laleshwari when she said don’t think in terms of Hindu and Muslim because such narrow mindset will take you away from the greatness of your creator.”
He said that Jammu and Kashmir is the land of the Prophet of Islam as it is that of Gautam Buddha and Lord Shiva.
Sinha recited the couplet in broken Kashmiri but promised that he would soon learn the local language to communicate better with the locals.
He also spoke of the sacrifices made by local panchayat members making a special mention of Ajay Pandita and Wasim Bari, the two Sarpanchs who were killed by militants this year.
He said many wrongs occurred in Jammu and Kashmir in the past, but efforts were now on to set these right.
In his address, the Lieutenant Governor mentioned various developmental projects completed in the union territory and also of the ones which were nearing completion, including the rail link between Kashmir and Kanyakumari which he said would be in place by 2022.
Hoisted the National Flag on the occasion of 74th Independence Day and addressed the fellow citizens of Jammu-Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/G18H6kOlhG
— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinha_) August 15, 2020
He spoke of strengthening the anti-corruption bureau to ensure a corruption-free Jammu and Kashmir while adding that every citizen needs to be given an equal opportunity and ensured to do so during his tenure.
He also spoke of horticulture, agriculture, tourism, safe drinking water, smart cities for Srinagar and Jammu, IT parks, employment for youth and ensured an impartial merit-based selection for all recruitments in the future.
Before his speech, Sinha unfurled the tricolour and took salute at an impressive parade, which saw the participation of police, paramilitary forces, SDRF, home guards, fire services and the forest protection force.
The main parade was followed by a cultural programme.
Every year on August 15 and January 26 authorities suspended mobile phone services, this time it did not suspend services in Kashmir on Saturday.
Mobile Internet facility was, however, suspended as a precautionary measure. (IANS)
