UN office no longer needed in Kashmir: Lt Governor

Srinagar, Apr 2: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that the decision to wind up the United Nations office in Srinagar rests solely with the Centre and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). However, he personally believes that the office is no longer needed in Kashmir.
In an interview to a national news channel, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said, “To talk about the UN office in Srinagar doesn’t fall in my domain. MEA and Centre have to take a call. I have my boundaries.”
But the Lieutenant Governor quickly added that he personally feels that the “office not needed any more in Srinagar.”
Maintaining that the peace cannot be enforced but must be established, LG Sinha praised the efforts of the security forces for successfully creating a peaceful environment in the Union Territory. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a drastic transformation. There was a time when mothers used to mourn, and households struggled for survival,” he said, adding, “Today stone-pelting and shutdown calls given on the directions of our neighbor have become a history. Businesses are thriving, and educational institutions, cinemas, and universities are fully operational. This is all due to peace.”
Highlighting the change in public sentiment, he said, “The youth of Kashmir are dreaming big, just like their peers across the country. Statistics reveal a significant drop in violence, and assembly elections were conducted in a peaceful environment. For the first time in 40 years, election campaigns continued till midnight.”
LG Sinha said that people who are saying that “forced normalcy” has been established in J&K are giving a wrong notion. “Not a single commander of any terror outfit is alive. Local recruitment into terror groups has reduced to zero. Had this been a forced normalcy, schools wouldn’t have reopened, Bollywood and Hollywood wouldn’t be shooting films here, and the industry wouldn’t be investing in Kashmir. Cinema halls have reopened, and Muharram processions were allowed after more than three decades,” he said.
LG Sinha said that Kashmir has moved past its turbulent past. “If you visit the riverfront along the Jhelum at night, you’ll find youngsters playing the guitar and enjoying coffee. We have established a ‘Balidan Stambh’ in Lal Chowk, where Army and security forces officers now pay tribute to their fallen colleagues. The number of stakeholders in peace has increased significantly,” he added.
The LG emphasized the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorist sympathizers from state institutions. “We have adopted a whole-of-government approach to dismantle the terror ecosystem. Those within the government who support terrorism have to be removed.”
On the termination of Syed Salahuddin’s sons and Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s grandson from government service, LG Sinha said, “All were on board that they had to be removed. Terrorist outfits played a key role in destroying J&K, and I fail to understand why previous governments engaged in talks with them. Under this regime, there will be no dialogue with such elements.”
LG Sinha took a dig at politicians for claiming that unemployment in J&K has increased, he said, “So far, we have provided more than 40,000 government jobs in a transparent manner. No one has been appointed through a backdoor.”
Referring to the assembly elections held in 2024 in J&K, he said, “The Centre has stood by its commitment to hold polls in J&K. Our goal was to establish peace and drive development, and I hope the elected government will continue on this path.”
He said that the J&K Reorganization Act has clearly defined the roles of the elected government and the LG administration. “We must work within our respective boundaries to take Jammu and Kashmir forward on the path of development,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
LG Sinha said India’s global stature has risen, and the world recognizes Pakistan as a failed state exporting terrorism. “Bharat ki awaz suni jati hai… the world understands that our neighbor is a failed state exporting terror,” he asserted.
Regarding Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), he said that people there are disillusioned with Pakistan and are increasingly expressing their desire to join India.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed optimism about the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. “The issues of Kashmiri Pandits are being resolved, and the day is near when they will return to their homeland,” he said.
On the economic front, he highlighted Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s turnaround. “When I took over, J&K Bank was running at a loss of Rs 1,200 crore. Today, it is making a profit of Rs 1,700 crore,” he added.
LG Sinha credited Prime Minister Modi’s leadership for ensuring the completion of long-pending connectivity projects. “Connecting Kashmir with the railway network was a tough challenge, but PM Modi’s strong leadership made it possible. Connectivity plays a vital role in development, and this will accelerate further,” he said. “Rail connectivity will bridge emotional distances as well.”
On the question of the government imposing a ban on the Awami Action Committee (AAC) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, LG Sinha said, “No organization is banned without evidence.” “Earlier, banned organizations would rebrand themselves under a different name. Today, not only are organizations banned, but individuals associated with them are also blacklisted to prevent them from forming new groups,” he said.
The LG urged politicians to refrain from making irresponsible statements. “Leaders who have held high positions and taken oaths on the Constitution must be mindful of their words,” he said. (KNO)