All powers with elected Govt: LG Sinha

Srinagar, Oct 31: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the absence of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood cannot be used as an excuse for “underperformance”, asserting that the elected government had “all the powers to deliver” and must not “mislead people” on the pretext of limited authority.

Addressing the Union Territory Foundation Day celebrations at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, LG Sinha said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already assured restoration of statehood, making it clear that “delimitation first, then assembly elections, and statehood at an appropriate time” will remain the sequence.

“But some people have some problems,” he said. “When the assembly elections were held, it was clear that the elections were taking place for the UT assembly. They (the elected government) cannot make the excuse that work cannot be done till statehood is restored.”

Emphasising that the elected government “has all the powers”, the LG said, “People should not be misled under the pretext of the absence of statehood. The government must use its authority for the betterment of the people of J&K.”

On the issue of employees allegedly linked to terror activities, he said the administration’s drive would continue.

“This process will continue till we completely wipe out the terror ecosystem from the governance system,” LG Sinha said.

He urged people to stand united against those attempting to derail the development journey of J&K.

“Attempts are being made to stall the speed of development. People must stay united to ensure that the development process continues unabated,” the LG said.

Stressing that J&K had been transformed after the abrogation of Article 370, the LG said, “An aspirational J&K UT was born on October 31, 2019, and people’s dream of peace and progress was fulfilled within a short time. Historic milestones were achieved in infrastructure and other sectors. All forms of discrimination were eliminated, and social justice and equality were established.”

He administered the ‘Unity Pledge’ and flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister.

Paying tribute to Patel, LG Sinha said, “We must follow the ideals of Sardar Patel and work as a unified force for the shared goal of Aatm-Nirbhar J&K and Viksit Bharat. We have made history in terms of all round development and must continue this journey as an unbreakable entity.”

Calling upon public representatives and officials to perform their shared responsibilities, he said, “Since 2019, the aspirations of J&K are linked to the aspirations of the country. We must work with dedication to transform our unity into widespread prosperity. This path will be guided by the vision of the 4 Ps: Peace, Progress, Prosperity, and People first.”

The LG also inaugurated a photo exhibition, ‘An Era of Transformative Governance in Jammu and Kashmir’.

Young achievers and entrepreneurs shared their success stories, while a documentary by the Department of Information and Public Relations ‘Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ was screened to mark the occasion.

The event was attended by Leader of Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, senior Police and civil officers, and prominent citizens from across J&K.