New J&K Lt. Gov. to resume talks, eliminate terror
Jammu and Kashmir’s new Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday set “ridding it completely of years of militancy and putting it on the path of development with peace” was his agenda.
Speaking to reporters after taking oath at the picturesque Raj Bhavan on the foothills of Zabarwan overlooking Dal Lake here, he said, “My mission in J&K is to bring peace, end militancy and ensure development without any disparity or discrimination with any section of the people or region. I will stay in direct contact with people of J&K and the media”.
He pledged to open free dialogue with the people of the UT to have a better understanding of their problems and issues and then try to address these. He said there is a need to instill confidence among the “aam janata (general public) of J&K” in democracy.
Sinha said, “There won’t be any bias against anyone. Constitutional powers will be used for people’s welfare. I assure the people that their genuine grievances will be listened to and we will try to find a way to the solution. It is my aim to take forward the development here.” He said that his other main priority would be ‘zero tolerance for corruption’.
Pledging to take forward “developmental initiatives” launched during the last year and establishing dialogue with the people, he asserted that J&K embarked on a ‘new journey’ on August 5 last year when it was fully integrated with the Union of India, “ending a long era of isolation, discrimination and lack of development”. He asserted that because of its geographical, climatic, cultural and ethnic diversity, J&K is like a colourful bouquet; hence truly called the ‘Crown of India’.
Mr. Sinha who earlier quit from the basic membership of the BJP said that the people of J&K have suffered enormously but the “new dawn promises hope, optimism, and bright future” for them. He said that he was told by officials that J&K has achieved tremendous results in some of the programmes and schemes during the last one year.
He reiterated, “I’m hopeful that I will be able to carry forward the agenda of development, inclusiveness and restoration of peace in J&K.”