SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday laid the foundation stone of a new guest house at the Holy Shrine Dargah Hazratbal in Srinagar and used the occasion to make a strong appeal for national unity, urging political leaders and citizens to stop using divisive terms like “local” and “non-local.”
“I appeal to those in positions of responsibility in Jammu and Kashmir to stop using the phrase like local and non-local. We all are Indians. Stop dividing Indians into local and outsiders. You should work to unite people so that a united society can take Jammu and Kashmir to greater heights of growth,” the Lieutenant Governor said, addressing a large gathering.
The new facility at Hazratbal is part of the government’s broader push to improve pilgrimage infrastructure across the region. The LG congratulated the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board and said the project will enhance the experience for devotees visiting the revered spiritual site.
Speaking on broader issues facing the Union Territory, LG Sinha said, “We must rid society of those who aid and abet terrorism. Terror elements hiding among civilians must be brought to justice. Infrastructure and developmental projects must be expedited to serve the people’s needs.”
Paying tribute to victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the LG asserted that “Operation Sindoor” had enforced India’s zero-tolerance policy by delivering justice to what he termed the “terror state Pakistan.”
“The brave soldiers of our armed forces have not only destroyed terror factories deep inside Pakistan but have also drawn a new red line. Any future terror attack will be considered an act of war, and the harshest punishment will be delivered,” he said.
The LG warned that supporters of terrorism must be treated the same as active militants, stating, “Those who support terrorists should receive the same punishment for inflicting wounds on the soul of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He hailed the recent anti-Pakistan protests in the Valley as historic and indicative of the people’s rising voice against terrorism. “The valley echoed with slogans against terrorism. That is the true spirit of Jammu and Kashmir,” he remarked.
LG Sinha also urged society to uphold the values of unity, condemning rhetoric around cultural disruption and demographic change. “Statements claiming that guests are spoiling J&K’s culture or speaking of demographic invasion are not only misleading but dangerous. These must be opposed,” he said.
The LG concluded with a prayer, invoking blessings from Prophet Muhammad and Baba Amarnath to strengthen peace, love, and brotherhood in the region.
The event was attended by Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, IGP Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, senior officials, religious leaders, and a large gathering of citizens.
