‘Terrorists & their networks in J&K will never be forgotten’
Hails resilience of KP community
Releases Prof. Ashok Kaul’s Book ‘Kashmir-Nativity Regained’
JAMMU, Feb 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday reaffirmed that the safe and dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits is a top priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is on a transformative path following decisive action against terrorism.
“Jammu and Kashmir has been undergoing a profound transformation since 2019. The sinister plot of adversaries to destroy the dreams and destiny of the people of the UT has been decisively dismantled. Through tireless effort, this land’s ancient glory has been restored, and development has been accelerated. Very soon, this soil will be completely freed from the scourge of terrorism,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He was speaking at the release of the book titled “Kashmir-Nativity Regained”, authored by Prof. Ashok Kaul, which explores the Kashmiri Pandit exodus and the enduring trauma of being uprooted from ancestral roots.
Describing the book as “not just a literary endeavour but a laudable effort to shatter the silence that has shrouded our collective consciousness for decades,” the Lieutenant Governor lauded the resilience of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
“I salute the indomitable spirit of the Kashmiri Pandit community. Every displaced family carried within them a living ember of Kashmir. In the crucible of struggle and adversity, they preserved philosophy, spirituality, culture, language, and traditions. Even in agony, they unearthed possibilities and scaled new pinnacles of success,” he added.
Highlighting government initiatives, the Lieutenant Governor recalled the launch of the Kashmiri Migrant web portal in 2021 to reclaim houses and lands encroached upon from the community.
“I firmly believe that among the world’s gravest sorrows is the agony of becoming a stranger on one’s own soil. This is precisely what transpired in Jammu and Kashmir. The anguish of the 1989-90 massacre of Kashmiri Pandits by terrorists runs so profoundly deep that even the balm of time has failed to soothe it. The torment of abandoning homes overnight, of being uprooted from one’s roots, lingers like thorns in the veins of displaced families even today,” LG Sinha said.
He also underscored that the terror ecosystem in J&K tried to bury the truth, but justice and memory endure.
“We can never forget and never forgive those terrorists and their support networks who sowed terror and struck at the souls of generations. The younger generation must also never forget that Pakistan-backed terrorists have spilled the blood of thousands of innocent Kashmiri Muslims. Many cases are so heartrending that words falter in their retelling. Justice has begun flowing to those families since last year, with efforts underway to fulfil their employment needs alongside other essentials,” he said.
Referring to the historic abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the Lieutenant Governor said, “That day instilled the faith that the young generation of the Kashmiri Pandit community could reclaim those roots without fear.”
He added, “Prof Kaul’s book serves as a poignant reminder of the community’s resilience. This is an era of reconstruction. Through his words, Prof Kaul proclaims to the world that the Kashmiri Pandit community is at the very heart of J&K’s narrative.”
The book release ceremony was attended by Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu; Shri Rajiv Jha, Publisher of Readers Press; Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Dean of Research Studies; Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Registrar of Jammu University; eminent literary personalities, students, and people from diverse walks of life. Senior officials including Shri Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Shri Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; and Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, were also present.
