Srinagar, July 20 — Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday stated that peace in the Union Territory would not be “purchased” through short-term measures but would be built by comprehensively dismantling the entire terror ecosystem.
Speaking at a public function, Sinha underscored that the administration’s objective is not to negotiate peace but to establish it through sustained and just action. He emphasized a decisive shift in approach from past practices, pledging that while innocent lives would be safeguarded, those responsible for terrorism would be dealt with sternly.
“We are not here to buy peace. We are here to build a permanent and just peace. No innocent will be harmed, but the guilty will not be spared,” the L-G said.
Sinha praised the Jammu and Kashmir Police for its role in weakening the infrastructure that sustains terrorism, including financial and logistical support systems. He asserted that the fight against terrorism must target not just individual militants but the broader machinery that enables and sustains violence.
He was critical of past administrations, accusing them of “rewarding the wrong people” by providing government jobs to those linked with terror activities while neglecting families affected by terrorism.
Highlighting steps taken to reverse this trend, the L-G revealed that appointment letters were distributed to 40 families of terror victims in Baramulla on July 13.
“Some of these youths lost their fathers when they were just two years old. Today, the government is acknowledging their pain and ensuring justice,” he noted.
Sinha also projected a transformed socio-political landscape in the region, describing “Naya Jammu and Kashmir” as a tangible shift.
“Stones have been replaced by pens and laptops. Schools function throughout the year, separatist shutdowns are a thing of the past, and our calendars are now filled with national and international events,” he said.
He added that cinema halls have reopened, and residents now feel safe attending religious and cultural gatherings such as Muharram processions and Eid melas. Factories have replaced gunfire as the dominant soundscape of the region, he remarked.
Calling for broader public support, Sinha appealed to citizens to stand with security forces in this collective mission.
“Peace is not just the absence of violence. It is justice, opportunity, and hope. That is what we are working to ensure,” he said.
In a key policy declaration, the L-G also announced that properties of terror victims, previously usurped by individuals backed by militants, would be returned to rightful owners by August this year.
The remarks come amid continued efforts by the administration to strengthen security and rehabilitate communities scarred by decades of insurgency.
— The Political Observer
