‘Some don’t want complete peace, corruption suits them’
Time ripe for Panchayat polls in J&K
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR Aug 3: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that Jammu and Kashmir has changed a lot in the last few years and time is ripe for holding Panchayat elections even as he declared that a terrorist has to be called a terrorist as terrorism has ruined J&K in the past.
Addressing a gathering at HMT Zainakote in Srinagar after inaugurating a series of projects during his visit to Integrated Command and Control Centre, the LG said some people don’t want peace to prevail and neither do they digest the development which is taking place.
The LG said that terrorism has ruined J&K in the past. “Some people admit that terrorism, violence and separatism destroyed Kashmir’s economy and left the common man handicapped. They still hesitate to call a terrorist a terrorist. These are the people who created an atmosphere of terror in J&K,” he said.
He said that those hesitating in calling a terrorist, a terrorist are the people who would never want peace prevail in J&K. “Double standards won’t do. A terrorist has to be called a terrorist come what may.”
“A new type of economy has developed here and some people don’t like it. They don’t want complete peace to prevail. This benefits the common man and they don’t like it,” he added. “These are those people who created such situation. If there is corruption, that’s right for them. But this system won’t run now,” he declared.
Sinha said that Kashmir has changed a lot during these years with the common man getting its maximum benefit.
“The major changes that took place in Kashmir is that street violence has ended. Second is that some people sitting in another nation who were spreading terrorism and separatism were giving strike calls from there and businesses, schools and colleges were getting closed and that has ended. Third is that people were heading home early but now they can be seen going home late at night while holding guitars and ice-creams in their hands. And the major change is that the common man has decided to live his life as per his wishes,” he said.
Sinha said peace has started to become a permanent feature in J&K after a long gap. “For the first time, 1.27 crore tourists have visited J&K in the first seven months of 2023. The figure is set to cross 2.25 crore by the year end,” he said.
The LG said that gradually tourism infrastructure is being upgraded everywhere in the UT to provide best facilities to the guests.
He said that J&K was deprived of proper Panchayat Raj System for decades together and it is time to hold the Panchayat elections.
“The system was set up for the first time in J&K to ensure governance at the grassroots level. I believe time has come when we should have Panchayat polls so that people reap the benefits of governance at their door steps right at their door steps once again,” he said.
The LG said that Srinagar is witnessing a major revamp and is set to become a major example of development shortly. “Some people who can’t digest the development of the city are even making non-issues an issue. Recently, heavy rainfall triggered some water logging and this was highlighted on social media. Roads were made in a way in Srinagar which always resulted in waterlogging during rainfall. It will take some time to address the issue as Srinagar is set to emerge as a model city,” he said, adding that he was hopeful to see the ongoing projects,” he said.
The LG said that no development would take place unless peace becomes a permanent feature. “I have been saying this from day one,” he said.
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