L-G: Need to start Kashmir dialogue for peace, stability

SRINAGAR:Authorities will initiate a dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) without any discrimination in order to usher in peace and development, Manoj Sinha, who was sworn in as the second lieutenant governor (LG) of the Union Territory, said on Friday, sending out a message of unity in his first speech after taking charge.

Sinha, 61, a three-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian, stressed that “peace and stability” should prevail in J&K while “uncertainty and terrorism” should end. “Achieving all this along with accelerated development will be our aim, our mission,” he said after the oath ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.

The appointment of Sinha, a former Union minister, is being seen as an indication of the Centhe tre’s will to initiate the political process in J&K at a time when the region is grappling with multiple issues, from security concerns to a tumultuous social and political landscape.

After years of isolation, J&K has joined the national mainstream, Sinha said, referring to

central government’s move to nullify Article 370, which conferred special status to the erstwhile state, and bifurcate it into two UTs — J&K with a legislative assembly and Ladakh without one — on August 5, 2019.

“I have been told that many works which could not be completed in years have been completed in the past one year. I want to accelerate that development,” Sinha said.

“We need to establish a dialogue with the common people of Jammu and Kashmir. We don’t have any agenda in that; there will be no discrimination against anyone. Constitution will be Gita in that,” he added.

Later in the day, Sinha chaired a high-level meeting of administrative secretaries of the government at the civil secretariat. He was briefed on development projects in the UT, among other issues.

ANI Manoj Sinha takes oath in Srinagar on Friday.