Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 5: Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan today described Kashmir as “the crown of India,” saying the region must first achieve normalcy before it can effectively manage its affairs as a state.
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Speaking to reporters after paying obeisance at the Hazratbal Dargah in Srinagar, Khan said his bond with Kashmir goes back several decades. “I am saying this to the whole of India that Kashmir is the crown of our head,” he said, adding that he has frequently visited the Valley since his early years in public life.
Recalling his time in the Home Ministry during the 1980s, Khan said he often interacted with Kashmiri students studying in Aligarh and Amritsar. “I have a long-standing bond with the people of Kashmir. Your hospitality is unmatched,” he said.
Commenting on the broader political landscape, Khan said India’s democracy is no longer defined by dynastic politics but by the people’s mandate. “In our democracy, sovereignty lies with the people, not the leaders. A person born in an ordinary house can rise to become the Prime Minister or President,” he said.
Reflecting on the region’s history, he expressed sorrow over the suffering caused by partition and years of violence. “When a country is divided, hate becomes institutionalised, and the people of Kashmir have paid the highest price for it,” he said.
Khan called for peace and collective responsibility to restore stability in the Valley. “The desire of the whole of India is that Kashmir function like any other state, but that requires creating normal conditions first,” he said.
Khan emphasized a shared human duty to end suffering and promote harmony. “Wherever there is pain, it is our duty to respond, because insecurity in one place is a threat to security everywhere,” he added.
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