Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivered a compelling message on Saturday, asserting that the responsibility of ending terrorism lies not solely with the government and security forces but also with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He spoke at an event in Jammu, highlighting the significant reduction of terrorism across India, indicating that it has now become largely confined to specific regions.
Speaking about the multifaceted issue, Sinha noted, “Terrorism has been reduced in other parts of the country. The North-East is largely terror-free now, and left-wing extremism or Naxalism is now confined to a few districts. I am confident it will be eradicated in the coming months.”
Yet, Sinha acknowledged that some areas, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as parts of Karnataka and Kerala, continue to face challenges posed by terrorism. He emphasized the urgency of eradicating these threats, stating, “It is the biggest hurdle to development and creating employment opportunities.”
According to Sinha, while security forces and administrative bodies work tirelessly to curb terrorist activities, the local populace also plays a crucial role. He urged citizens to avoid any actions that could inadvertently support terrorism, stressing, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir should not indulge in anything that could lead to a rise in such activities, either intentionally or unintentionally. That causes a lot of problems.”
Reassuring the citizens, Sinha pointed out that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has notably improved. He stated, “Street violence and stone pelting have become things of the past. Schools, colleges, and businesses function like in other parts of the country. No top commander of any major terror outfit is alive now, and there has only been a single local recruitment into terrorist ranks this year.”
Sinha’s address also included a critique of Pakistan’s involvement in supporting terrorism in the region. He remarked, “Unfortunately, we have a neighbour who is always up to some mischief. After partition, instead of focusing on nation-building, Pakistan attacked Jammu and Kashmir and has engaged in direct wars with India, only to realize that they cannot win through conventional means and are now pursuing proxy wars by radicalizing people.”
Highlighting the profound human cost of the conflict, Sinha lamented that over 40,000 lives have been lost to terrorism. “How long will this continue? While it is the duty of the government and the forces to stop this, it is equally the responsibility of the people to come forward and put an end to it,” he urged the audience.
In a pointed remark, Sinha indicated that certain public statements echo the narratives of terrorist organisations like ‘The Resistance Front (TRF)’, exacerbating the problem. He cautioned, “When narratives are created like this, it causes huge damages. If the same thing is being said in the TRF’s social media posts that we say in our statements, then it surely is dangerous.”
With this call to action, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reinforced the idea that while security forces bear a significant burden in fighting terrorism, the solution ultimately requires the concerted effort of all levels of society to ensure lasting peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
