Invoking the ancient text “Rajtarangini” by terming Kashmir as a holy and beautiful place on earth, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said all the people living in villages and towns have started building a new Jammu and Kashmir to fulfil their ambitions and those of the nation.
The Lieutenant Governor hoisted the National Flag at the Union Territory level function on the occasion of the 72nd Republic Day at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu this morning.
The Lt Governor inspected the parade and took the salute at an impressive march past.
Motorcycle acrobatics displayed by J&K Police, besides youth displaying various musical performances, cultural and sports activities were the main attractions of the programme. Scores of students from various schools presenting a cultural spectacle based on national integration and the glorious composite heritage of Jammu and Kashmir marked the day.
The smart contingents from Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, women contingents of the JKAP, JKAP/IRP, J&K Police, Disaster Response Force, J&K Fire and Emergency Services, J&K Forest Protection Force, Excise Department, ex-Servicemen, NCC Boys and Girls, Bharat Scouts and Guides (Girls & Boys), Boys and Girls from various schools and bands of Army, BSF, J&K Police, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and scores of boys and girls participated in the parade.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor laid wreath at Police Martyrs Memorial and Balidan Stambh. He paid homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the honour of the country. “We are eternally indebted to our men in uniform for their supreme sacrifices towards ensuring integrity and sovereignty of India”, said the Lt Governor.
Besides the First Lady, the colourful celebrations of Republic Day filled with patriotic ethos was witnessed by Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court; State Election Commissioner; Advisors to the Lt Governor; Judges of the J&K High Court; Mayor Jammu Municipal Corporation; Members of Parliament; Chief Secretary; DGP; elected representatives of ULBs and PRIs; former Legislators; senior Civil, Police and Army officers; political and social activists; prominent citizens from all walks of life; media persons and the citizenry.
The LG assured all citizens that the political conspiracies and nefarious designs of a neighbouring country will never be allowed to succeed in this land of great persons and warriors.
“With the Constitution of India in one hand and the Tricolour in the other, all the people of villages and towns, with dreams of progress in their eyes, have started building a new Jammu and Kashmir to fulfil their ambitions and those of the nation,” Sinha said while addressing the Republic Day function.
He said 2020 has been a year of unprecedented change in Jammu and Kashmir. “Through a continuous process of change, the roots of progress have been planted in the new Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
“The security agencies have effectively controlled violence and those who are trying to fulfil their political motives with the help of this proxy war are being given a befitting reply,” he said.
Invoking Kalhana’s Rajtarangini, the LG said the breeze of Jammu and Kashmir has the words of sages and, in its mountains lies the music of Sufi mystics.
“There is art in its soil and the light of lotuses in its rivers. For this reason, the great Kalhana in his book ‘Rajtarangini’, while mentioning Jammu and Kashmir, has written “Tadvina Nagram Kutra Pavitra”. Except this place, is there any city on the earth where such holy and beautiful rivers can be accessible?”, he said.
The LG says Kalhana writes further, “I have not seen such a city where the glory of planets in the sky is clearly visible.”
“Therefore, in every corner of it, we can find the culture of thoughtfulness and soulful experience of our ancient civilisation. Who can forget the words of famous Sufi saint Amir Khusroo “Gar Firdous Bar Rue Zami Ast. Hami Asto, Hami Asto, Hami Ast ! If there is heaven on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here”, he said.
On the occasion of Republic Day, he said, “I bow down to the bravery of police personnel and our security forces working day and night to create a conducive atmosphere for smooth day-to-day life and maintaining a peaceful environment”.
On behalf of the entire Jammu and Kashmir, I pay homage to all the warriors who have sacrificed everything for the honour of our tricolour, he added.
The LG said that for a long time, the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir were denied grassroots democracy. “We have been successful in conducting a violence free, free and fair elections to District Development Councils. We assure all the elected representatives that with your support, administration will bring the fruits of development to the last person standing in the queue”, he added.
The LG said the horrific tragedy due to the coronavirus shook our economy and social life badly for some time. “But now the darkness has been dispelled. With the dawn of a new morning, we are taking forward the economy and the social welfare programmes of Jammu and Kashmir”, he added.
Sinha said a new revolution has started with the Ayushman Bharat Sehat scheme in the field of public health. “This health insurance scheme is the first of its kind in the country and the world, where under all the 1.3 crore J&K citizens will be benefited without any discrimination,” he added.