Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday stated that the responsibility of ending terrorism lies not only with the government and security forces but also with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. At an event held in the Union territory, he highlighted the collective role citizens must play in achieving peace and stability.
During his address, Sinha noted that terrorism has significantly decreased across India, now affecting only a few regions. He remarked, “Terrorism has been reduced in other parts of the country. The North-East is largely terror-free now. Left-wing extremism, or Naxalism, is confined to a few districts, and I am confident it will be eradicated in the coming months.”
He specifically mentioned areas like Karnataka, Kerala, and Jammu and Kashmir as places long impacted by terrorism that require urgent attention to eliminate violence. “Terrorism serves as the biggest obstacle to development and the creation of employment opportunities. Although security forces and the administration perform their roles, the residents of Jammu and Kashmir must also engage in preventing actions that might inadvertently promote terrorism,” Sinha emphasized, making the point that such inactions have severe consequences.
Sinha asserted that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has greatly improved. He said, “Street violence and stone-pelting incidents have become relics of the past. Educational institutes and businesses function like those in other states.” He also pointed out that there has been one localized recruitment into terrorist ranks this year, and no senior commanders from significant terror organizations remain alive.
The Lieutenant Governor further addressed external influences, particularly Pakistan’s role in perpetuating terrorism. He remarked, “Despite our successes, we unfortunately have a neighbor involved in continual mischief. Pakistan has consistently chosen aggression over development since the partition, leading to four direct wars against India, all of which resulted in their defeat. Now, they resort to proxy warfare and radicalization.”
Highlighting the devastating human cost of terrorism, Sinha noted that over 40,000 lives have been lost due to this scourge. He questioned, “How long will this continue? While the government and security forces have duties to perform, the people too must come forward to oppose this violence.”
Without directly naming any individual or groups, Sinha expressed concern regarding certain narratives echoing sentiments expressed by the terrorist outfit “The Resistance Front (TRF).” He cautioned, “When statements mirror those from the TRF’s social media, it leads to significant harm.”
In conclusion, the Lieutenant Governor’s remarks serve as a clarion call for active citizen involvement in counter-terrorism efforts and underscore the continuous need for vigilance and cooperation between the government, security forces, and the local populace. Achieving lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir requires a united front, and the active participation of the community is essential to paving the way toward a terror-free future.
