Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said that the Centre remains committed to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and urged people to trust the assurances made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament.
In an interview with a national television channel, Sinha said the statements made by the country’s top leadership regarding statehood restoration were important and should be taken seriously by the people.
He said that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister had earlier stated in Parliament that statehood would be restored “at an appropriate time” after the completion of delimitation and Assembly elections.
Referring to the recently held Assembly elections, Sinha said the polls were conducted peacefully with high voter participation and without any incidents of re-polling or stone-pelting.
“The assurances made on the floor of Parliament carry both constitutional and political weight,” Sinha said, adding that those familiar with parliamentary procedures understand their significance.
Speaking about the present administration, the Lieutenant Governor said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was functioning effectively, though he avoided directly responding to repeated demands by the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference for immediate restoration of statehood.
Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed considerable improvement in peace, stability, and economic activity over the last few years. He added that sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, and overall development had recorded significant progress.
He also claimed that Jammu & Kashmir Bank, which had previously faced financial difficulties, was now functioning profitably, while development projects across the Union Territory had gathered pace.
Referring to the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Sinha said security forces responded swiftly and neutralised those involved in the incident. He added that precise operations were carried out within 72 hours under “Operation Sindoor”.
On the security front, the Lieutenant Governor said militant recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir had declined significantly and claimed that several top militant commanders had been eliminated in sustained counter-terror operations.
Sinha further said that narcotics trafficking and terrorism were interconnected, alleging that money generated through drug smuggling was often used to finance militant activities. He said security agencies had intensified their crackdown on drug networks through FIRs and attachment of properties linked to the trade.
He also said that regional discrimination in Jammu and Kashmir had ended and that the administration was focusing on border area development, youth welfare, rehabilitation of families affected by terrorism, and counter-radicalisation measures driven by technology.
