Srinagar, Aug 5: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday described August 5 as “an important constitutional milestone” in the Union Territory’s history, saying the changes ushered in after the abrogation of Article 370 had laid the foundation for peace, equality, development and accountable governance while significantly weakening terrorism and separatism.

Addressing a function marking seven years since the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, Sinha said the day was not only about reflecting on the past but also about shaping the future of Jammu and Kashmir.

“I regard this day as an important constitutional milestone in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. Today is not merely an occasion to remember the past; it is also an opportunity to determine the direction of the future,” he said. “This day inspires us to honestly evaluate the new journey that has begun, to humbly acknowledge the challenges before us, and to strengthen our commitment to the future with confidence.”

Calling August 5 a defining moment, Sinha asserted that it fundamentally altered Jammu and Kashmir’s trajectory. “It was after that day that the process of breaking the backbone of terrorism and separatism truly began,” he said. “It was the day when the wall that had been erected between ordinary people and the privileged was brought down.”

He said the changes marked “the beginning of efforts to ensure that every citizen enjoys equal rights” and a journey where “every individual could experience peace in their lives, receive justice, enjoy equal opportunities, and live with dignity.”

The Lieutenant Governor said the government’s focus over the past seven years had been on delivering welfare schemes without discrimination and making governance transparent and responsive.

“Social, economic, and political equality have connected the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the aspirations of the nation,” he said. “The central objective… has been to ensure that every government scheme… reaches every beneficiary.”

Highlighting governance reforms, Sinha said digital initiatives had improved accountability and service delivery.

“Through digital governance, we have succeeded in building an administrative system that is responsive. We have also succeeded in creating institutions that are accountable,” he said, adding that opportunities were now being created “not for a privileged few, but for every deserving citizen.”

He also pointed to economic growth, saying investment was beginning to translate into employment. “Private investment has come in, industries have been established, and over the next six to eight months to a year, these industries will begin operations. This will certainly create more employment opportunities for the youth of the region,” he said.

Sinha credited events such as the G20 meetings, marathons, the Legends League Cricket tournament and rising tourism with giving fresh momentum to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, while also highlighting improvements in digital connectivity, healthcare and public services.

He said people themselves were increasingly rejecting violence and narcotics. “Today, the people of Jammu and Kashmir themselves are coming out onto the streets against terrorism and drug abuse because they realize that, through peace, dialogue, and responsible leadership, they can play a meaningful role in building the nation and society.”

According to Sinha, the future of Jammu and Kashmir would now be shaped by educators, doctors, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, women and youth rather than “those who spread the poison of terrorism and drugs.”

“The future of Jammu and Kashmir will no longer be decided by those who spread the poison of terrorism and drugs… Instead, the future… will be written by teachers… doctors… farmers… entrepreneurs… artists… women and young people who are ready to step forward and lead.”

He also paid tribute to security personnel, saying they would continue to play a vital role in safeguarding peace. “It will also be written by the personnel of the police, the Army, and the security forces, who are prepared to shed every drop of their blood to protect every citizen and ensure the progress of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Referring to families affected by terrorism, Sinha acknowledged delays in providing government jobs but blamed the lengthy verification process on attempts to exploit any irregularity. “I want to assure you that every genuine terror victim’s family will definitely receive a job. Please give us a little more time. We will ensure that every deserving terror victim family is provided employment.”

He said the process began after he met around 200–250 affected families through the Save Youth Save Future Foundation more than two years ago.

Sinha also asked the administration to expedite action in cases involving land recovered from illegal occupation and to complete pending investigations. “There are several cases where FIRs have been registered but investigations have not been completed. I believe these investigations should be concluded and brought to their logical end as quickly as possible.”

Concluding his address, the Lieutenant Governor said the coming decade presented “extraordinary possibilities” and urged people to renew their commitment to peace and development. “The remarkable patience and extraordinary courage shown by the people of Jammu and Kashmir over seven decades of challenges and discrimination deserve the highest appreciation,” he said, adding that the aspirations of the youth were now aligned with “the nation’s mainstream.”

Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” Sinha called for building a future “where peace is permanently established, where equal opportunities are available to everyone, and where the younger generation can make a greater contribution to the prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir and the vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

Srinagar, Aug. 5: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the “wounds” caused by the abrogation of Article 370 had not healed even after seven years, while asserting that his government remained committed to correcting the “injustices” suffered by the people of the Union Territory.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to cloudburst-affected areas in Poonch, Abdullah also outlined the government’s relief and rehabilitation plans for affected families, saying assistance, reconstruction and restoration of damaged infrastructure would now be the administration’s priority.

Referring to August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was revoked, Abdullah said, “The wounds of the abrogation are still there. Our wounds have not healed. Instead, we had hoped that at least some balm would be applied to those wounds and that the promise of restoring statehood would be fulfilled.”

“Today, as you yourself said, it is the seventh year. Everything happened on August 5, 2019. Today is August 5, 2026. Seven years have passed. Even the promise made to us remains unfulfilled. Other issues are a different matter,” he said.

Recalling the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah added, “As we said while passing the resolution in the Assembly, we remain firm in our position. The injustices done to us will be corrected.”

Relief, rehabilitation for cloudburst-hit 

The Chief Minister’s remarks came as he toured areas affected by recent cloudbursts that caused loss of lives, damage to homes and destruction of public infrastructure in parts of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
He said the government’s immediate priority had been rescue operations.

“Our immediate effort was to carry out rescue operations and trace those who are still missing. After that, we focused on recovery. Now comes the stage of rehabilitation and reconstruction,” Abdullah said.

He said the administration was assessing how to rebuild destroyed houses and assist families whose homes had suffered extensive damage.

“We have to see how people whose houses have been destroyed can be resettled, and how we can help those whose homes are still standing but have suffered heavy damage,” he said.

Abdullah said roads, schools, hospitals and flood protection infrastructure had also sustained significant damage.

“A great deal of government infrastructure has also been damaged. We will meet the officers in Poonch and do whatever we can to help people through this difficult period,” he said.

Asked whether the government would consider providing free ration in the worst-hit areas, Abdullah said it was open to the proposal if recommended by the district administration.

“If a proposal comes from the district administration that free ration should be arranged in the areas where the damage and crop losses have been the highest, we are ready to do that,” he said.
Recalling the 2014 floods, he added, “We are the people who, during the 2014 floods, made ration free across the whole of Jammu and Kashmir for six months, even though there were many areas that had not been affected by the floods.”

On demands for a special relief package, Abdullah said the government would first complete damage assessment in both Poonch and Rajouri before taking a decision.

“The visit has just begun. The damage is not limited to Poonch alone; Rajouri has also suffered. I cannot announce a separate package for Poonch while standing here. Today I am visiting Poonch, tomorrow I will visit Rajouri. After that, we will sit in Srinagar and decide what needs to be done. If a special package is required, we will certainly arrange it,” he said.

However, he declined to announce any package immediately, saying such decisions followed official procedures.

“Announcements of packages are not made before the media. There is a proper process. Let the preparations be completed. After that, whatever needs to be done will be done,” he said.

The Chief Minister also said financial assistance to affected families would be released as soon as officials completed the required documentation.

“The money is ready. As soon as we receive their bank account details and the remaining formalities are completed, the funds will be released,” he said.

Responding to a question on an alleged incident involving the Indian national flag by a former chief minister, Abdullah said he believed it was an inadvertent mistake rather than a deliberate act.

“You will have to ask that question to him. As far as I understand, it must have been a mistake. I am not prepared to believe that someone who has been the Chief Minister of a state would deliberately display the national flag upside down. If it happened by mistake, let us accept it as a mistake. I do not think it was done intentionally,” he said.

Srinagar, Aug 05: Ruling National Conference leaders held a protest here on Wednesday on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, demanding the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Scores of NC leaders, MLAs, and workers, led by Minister Sakina Itoo, assembled at the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subah, here and held a protest march.

The protestors, carrying placards in support of the Article 370 and special status, tried to take the march out of the party office complex, but were not allowed by the police.

Speaking to reporters, Itoo, the Minister for Education and Social Welfare, said, “We demand that our special status and rights, which were snatched from us, be restored. Our party has been protesting peacefully for the restoration of our rights since then”.

Itoo said the party demands that the rights and guarantees that J-K enjoyed should be restored.

“We also passed a resolution in the assembly with a two-third majority, and another resolution in the cabinet which has been sent to the Union government so that the voice of the people reaches them and those rights, which were snatched, be restored,” she added.

Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in 2019.