- ‘Efforts to escalate terrorism won’t succeed’
- Many cases of fake narratives being probed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said he won’t comment on the Supreme Court hearing petitions on abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India but added that this is the time that people have been empowered in Jammu and Kashmir.
In an interview with CNN News 18 Network on the eve of four years of Article 370 abrogation, Sinha declared that Jammu and Kashmir will not go back and those who are trying to create issues will be tackled by law and order enforcing agencies.
“I will not speak on the Supreme Court hearing the issue of the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K. But this is the first time that the people have been empowered in Jammu and Kashmir. Whatever they want is happening. Panchayats and Municipalities are receiving lot of funds. People can examine details of works on their mobile telephone Apps,” he said.
Replying to a question on speculations of his possible transfer, Sinha said: “Those who sent me here will decide. What others say don’t matter.”
Referring to 2009 incident when a false narrative was created about two girls having been raped in Shopian, Sinha said: “the Valley burnt. Two doctors had fabricated evidence. When the CBI conducted investigations and AIIMS did a post-mortem, it was found that there was no rape. Lawyers and doctors were involved. Degrees of the doctors should be snatched”.
He disclosed that several other such cases are being probed.
“Whoever is caught will be taken to task by the law,” he said.
Sinha reiterated his stand on conduct of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) has assured us all. He had said in Parliament that delimitation first, elections next, and Statehood after that,” he said, adding that the Election Commission is a Constitutional body and it has to take a call on polls but the UT administration is ready for the exercise.
“Attempts by Pakistan-backed former militants to enter the electoral process in a bid to push separatism will be checked,” he said, adding obviously we can’t interfere with anyone’s Constitutional rights but the people of J&K have understood the game of such elements.
Responding to a question, the Lieutenant Governor said the street violence in the Union Territory has been stopped and the common man is living peacefully now.
“Kids go to markets. People throng Jhelum at the night too. Jammu and Kashmir is brimming with activity again,” he said.
On Muharram procession being allowed in Srinagar after 34 years, Sinha said the Muslim community was trying for taking out procession for a long time.
“I helped them. This has sent out a good message. Not even Muharram, even when Eid was being celebrated, I was there. I oversaw the Amarnath Yatra too. Since last 10 years, the most number of people came for the yatra,” he added.
Asserting that there have been efforts to escalate terrorism in the region, particularly Jammu, after the security forces cracked down in Kashmir, Sinha said the number of foreign terrorists has gone up.
“But the security forces are working in full coordination. There is a whole-of-Government approach, and these elements will be defeated,” he declared.
The Lieutenant Governor said the administration is trying to correct the system and 50 employees have been removed from the services.
Sinha said last year, Jammu and Kashmir saw arrival of 1.88 crore tourists and this year 1.27 crore have already visited the UT. The figure is expected to go over 2 crore.
He denied any discrimination between Jammu and Kashmir by the administration.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
