Srinagar, Oct 10 (KNS): Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinha on Saturday termed conduct of elections, development and return of Kashmiri pundits as their ambitious projects, saying I’m ready to listen to and speak with everyone but within reason.
According to Kashmir News Service (KNS) monitoring, LG Sinha in an interview with national daily said that conduct of elections, development and return of Kashmiri pundits to valley are their ambitious projects.
He said my office is ready to listen to and speak with everyone “within reasons”. “People of Jammu and Kashmir have felt that Government doesn’t exist for them but my first priority is to make them feel that not only does it exist, it is there to work for them”, he has said.
Claiming manifold changes reported in the administration after attempts including Back to Village and others were carried out across UT, LG Sinha said that all bureaucrats in the UT are back at work. Despite pandemic situation, people are coming to Government offices for domicile certificates, caste certificates and other paperwork.
“I want to ensure people get a say in what they want. I am not one to make grand announcements”, Sinha maintained.
About conduct of Panchayat elections in the UT, Sinha said that the direct planning boards are going to be recast who were dissolved in 2019 after restructuring of J&K in 2019 and said Panchayat elections will be held as soon as feasible.
“I am arranging to send groups of Panchayat heads to other parts of India to gather best practices in local government”, he said.
When asked how UT Government be able to hold elections in absence of top politicians who are either been jailed or kept into house detention, LG Sinha said, “This is a temporary situation, hinting at their release soon. There might be initial clamor for boycott of Panchayat elections, but I expect extensive participation, people know this will have an impact on development”.
He said that projects those were started 2025 years ago are still incomplete.
In a query whether UT Government has drafted any concrete strategy for return of Kashmir pundits, LG said that I have assured them adequate security cover if they want to return to valley.
“All over the region, there are beautiful temples, thousands of years old, lying in ruins. If my ancestors had built those structures, I would have grabbed at the chance to rebuild them. I have made an offer to some wealthy KPs, Come back and reclaim your heritage. I am sure they will respond positively”, LG Sinha added. (KNS)