Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha declared on Saturday that while government and security forces play crucial roles, the task of eliminating terrorism falls equally on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at an event, Sinha highlighted the significant reduction of terrorism in India, especially in J&K, and called for collective efforts to combat the challenge.
Sinha noted that terrorism has diminished across the nation, remaining confined to a few areas. He pointed out that regions like the North-East have largely become terror-free.
“Terrorism has been reduced in other parts of the country. North-East is largely terror-free now. Left-wing extremism or Naxalism is now restricted to a few districts, and I am confident it will be eradicated soon,” he said.
Though he acknowledged the persistent threat in J&K and certain districts in Karnataka and Kerala, he stressed that it is critical to eliminate terrorism as it poses the greatest obstacle to development and employment opportunities.
Sinha emphasized the role of the local populace in maintaining peace, saying, “Security forces and the administration work diligently, but the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir must also contribute. They should refrain from actions that could lead to any form of resurgence in terrorism, whether intentionally or unintentionally.”
He expressed optimism about improving conditions in J&K, stating that incidents of street violence and stone-pelting had decreased significantly. “Schools, colleges, and businesses now operate as they do in other parts of the country. The leadership of major terrorist organizations has been dismantled, with only a single local recruitment into terror groups reported this year,” he informed the audience.
Addressing the external factors, Sinha criticized Pakistan’s role in perpetuating terrorism in the region. He stated, “While we have achieved notable successes, we face a neighbor that constantly creates mischief. Instead of focusing on nation-building after the partition, Pakistan chose conflict—attacking J&K right from the start. They have lost four direct wars against us but now engage in proxy warfare through radicalization.”
Highlighting the devastating human cost of terrorism, Sinha lamented that over 40,000 lives have been lost due to violence. “How long will this torment continue? While our forces are responsible for countering this menace, the onus also lies with the community to take a stand against it,” he urged.
Without naming specific individuals, Sinha cautioned against narratives that resonate with terrorist groups such as ‘The Resistance Front (TRF).’ He said, “Statements that echo the rhetoric of groups like TRF cause tremendous harm. If our statements mirror those made in TRF’s social media posts, it’s undeniably dangerous.”
