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News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
The Statesman Of Stability: Manoj Sinha's Unseen Transformation Of Kashmir
Last Updated: A leader who didn't inherit peace - but engineered it with precision, patience, and principle. Since the dawn of independence, Jammu and Kashmir has traveled its own troubled path, filled with loss, half-finished dreams, and layers of political knots that few dare to untangle. Still, over the past five years a slow, silent turnaround has begun in this fragile region – not with shouting headlines, but through calm resolve, hard work, and careful leadership. Driving that change is a figure who prefers results to red carpets: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Sinha took the reins in August 2020 and quickly steered the valley away from the cloud of uncertainty that lingered after Article 370 was scrapped. Kashmir, long starved of political direction and economic energy, had fallen into a mix of dead ends and competing stories told over many years. Rather than retreat, he chose to engage, reaching beyond the usual bureaucratic ring to hear ordinary people from snow-bound Kupwara hamlets to Shopians sprawling apple orchards. He moved about the region, holding public darbars, stepping into living rooms, absorbing tales of loss, and kick-starting a trust-building drive that many now call one of independences boldest democratic trials. Today, under his stewardship, the Valley has witnessed a metamorphosis few thought was possible. The politics of hartal and shutdowns, once an endemic tool of separatist expression, has vanished almost completely. No longer are marketplaces ghost towns under the diktat of militant threats or Hurriyat calendars. The Pahalgam terror attack, which recently shook the conscience of the nation, saw something unprecedented: thousands of Kashmiris pouring into the streets – not in protest against the state, but in resounding condemnation of terrorism. For the first time in the Valley's recent memory, the people stood not apart, but with the state. That moment, pregnant with symbolism, did not arise from fear – but from faith. Faith in an administration that has upheld the doctrine Sinha so often repeats: ' Begunah ko chhedo mat, aur gunahgar ko chhodo mat." (Touch not the innocent, and spare not the guilty.) This phrase has not merely remained rhetorical. It has come alive through policy. During Manoj Sinha's tenure, the infamous Shopian encounter – once a symbol of institutional betrayal – was not buried in silence. Instead, it became a test case for justice. The Lieutenant Governor personally reached the upper reaches of the victims' families, stood with them in their grief, and ensured that the truth prevailed. The guilty were not shielded – they were punished. In a land where impunity once bred mistrust, this act restored faith. For perhaps the first time, the people began to see the state not as an occupying force, but as a guarantor of justice. What enhances this transformation is the fact that it occurred without a popular governing regime. No CM was elected, nor was there any coalition mathematics. It was only with the effective machinery of administrative will that development progressed. Sopore and Pulwama do not experience stone pelting anymore. Rather now, there is the construction of new roads, colleges, water supply projects, entrepreneurial initiatives, and a plethora of initiatives aimed at the youth. Even the last village on the last hill is targeted by government schemes. Jammu & Kashmir Is often leading for a change, and is not lagging behind in implementation metrics. Places no train would have gone can now be reached on tracks. Rutted lanes that once stirred clouds of dust have grown into smooth national highways and feel like the big city. Even the quietest hamlet can log onto high-speed Internet, browse e-government sites and file complaints. A quick peek at these online services lets people track school grants or irrigation plans-tools once seen as luxury phones but now ordinary. All this digital lift happened because of Sinha's forward-looking plan. And he has not simply ruled from behind files. He has walked among the people. His Back to Village initiatives are not just symbols of approachability, but rather catalysts for change. In the absence of political middlemen, Sinha has chosen people's proximity as the most democratic form of governance. Through these consistent, unobscured encounters, he has forged trust that is indestructible between Raj Bhavan and rural Kashmir. Security, too, has been approached with clinical precision. Without headline-grabbing operations or muscular pronouncements, his administration has delivered the most crushing blows to the terror ecosystem seen in decades. The oxygen supply to separatist politics has been severed – economically, socially, and ideologically. Where once militant posters adorned walls, now Tiranga rallies stretch across towns once considered separatist strongholds. The silence of fear has been replaced by the voice of aspiration. Two elections – Lok Sabha Polls and the recent assembly Elections – were conducted peacefully, with significant voter participation, including from areas historically associated with boycott politics. This return of democratic confidence is not a coincidence – it is a consequence. A consequence of Sinha's unwavering insistence that governance must be clean, inclusive, and effective. His tenure has witnessed a systematic purge of corruption from public institutions, bringing accountability to the very core of state functioning. The days of middlemen and 'power brokers" are numbered. Civil servants today know they are expected to deliver, not defer. And in all this, Sinha has never sought the limelight. A technocrat by training, a statesman by instinct, he belongs to that rare breed of public leaders who measure legacy not in applause but in outcomes. In a region that has long suffered from excesses of both neglect and noise, his quiet but unrelenting leadership has been both antidote and answer. Years from now, historians might call these months the turning point on Kashmir's future. The moment the story of hopelessness was eclipsed by a peaceful push for dignity. When a land long marked by divisions began slowly stitching itself together. And when an unspectacular, quiet, yet determined leader stopped making grand promises and simply got to work. top videos View all Manoj Sinha has not just governed Jammu & Kashmir. He has guided its conscience, reformed its soul, and returned hope to a land long denied it. First Published: June 17, 2025, 10:42 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
4 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Muharram Returns To Kashmir's Streets: A March Of Mourning, Resilience, And Revival
The 2025 Muharram procession in Kashmir was more than a march—it was a message. A message that fear can fade. That faith can find footing again For the second consecutive year since 1989, the echoes of 'Ya Hussain" reverberated through the heart of Srinagar as tens of thousands of mourners peacefully participated in the 8th and 10th Muharram processions—events long banned during the violent years of Pakistan-backed insurgency in Kashmir. This wasn't just a religious congregation; it was a moment of historic reckoning. After 34 years, the street belonged again to the mourners, not the militants. At the helm of this dramatic shift stood Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, whose administration decisively facilitated the restoration of these iconic processions. The L-G, who has been pivotal in reshaping Kashmir's post-Article 370 governance narrative, personally monitored preparations, security drills, and interfaith outreach meetings leading up to the event. 'This is about trust, constitutional rights, and the people's faith in the state. We have delivered on that promise," said Sinha in a press briefing. The numbers speak volumes. More than 20,000 people marched in Srinagar alone on the 8th and 10th of Muharram, following the traditional route from Abi Guzar to Dalgate—a path that had been sealed for decades. Across Jammu and Kashmir, over 40,000 participants were recorded in various processions. Not a single incident of violence was reported. Security arrangements were unprecedented. The state deployed 3,500+ personnel, installed 80+ CCTV cameras, used drones with facial recognition, and ensured real-time surveillance. Quick reaction teams were stationed every 300 metres. Sanitation, lighting, and medical booths were operational across the route—something unimaginable during the earlier years of curfews and crackdowns. 'This is not just about allowing a procession," said Shia cleric Syed Rizwan Haider. 'It's about restoring a people's dignity and their right to mourn publicly after three decades of silence, fear, and forced erasure." Years of Ban, Bullets, and Blood: 1990-2020 To understand the emotional weight of this year's Muharram procession, one must turn back to the dark decades of 1990 to 2020, when the valley bled daily, and faith was muffled under the boot of insurgency. In 1989, as Pakistan-sponsored militancy erupted, the J&K government imposed a ban on major religious processions, particularly the 8th and 10th of Muharram. Officials feared that such large gatherings could become easy targets for terrorists or turn into flashpoints for pro-Azadi, anti-India sloganeering. That fear was not misplaced. By the mid-90s, terror groups like Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed had begun infiltrating even religious congregations, using them to propagate separatism or conceal movement. The state responded with hard crackdowns. In 1993, security forces opened fire on a Muharram gathering in Zadibal, killing nine people, an incident still etched in the communal psyche. Over the years, several such unauthorised processions ended in detentions, baton charges, or gunfire. In 2010 and 2016, young mourners were arrested en masse for defying the ban. In Budgam, 202 participants were booked under Section 144 just for attempting to carry an alam (religious flag) on the 10th of Muharram. Between 1990 and 2010 alone, over 13,000 civilians died in militancy-related violence, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). The Valley saw more than 500 terror incidents annually, many concentrated in urban areas where Muharram processions traditionally passed. But despite the crackdown, the Shia community adapted with quiet resilience. They mourned in back lanes, organised majalis (gatherings) indoors, and passed on the ritualistic heritage behind closed doors. From Kargil to Baramulla, the procession became less about public spectacle and more about personal defiance. 'The ban never killed our spirit," said 70-year-old Hajji Abbas of Rainawari. 'It only made our grief deeper. It made our faith private and more political at the same time." Reconciliation, Strategy, and the Politics of Peace So, what changed in 2025? Is the return of the Muharram procession a genuine act of reconciliation—or a calculated move to craft an image of normalcy in post-militancy Kashmir? The answer, while complex, leans towards transformation rather than mere tokenism. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the security landscape in the Valley has undergone a dramatic shift. Militancy has declined sharply, creating the space—both psychological and logistical—for such public expressions of faith to re-emerge. According to recent reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs, terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir fell by an astonishing 85 per cent between 2019 and 2024. Civilian casualties dropped from 78 in 2019 to just six in 2024. The number of active local militants, once over 230 in 2018, is now fewer than 35. Cross-border infiltration attempts, long a hallmark of Pakistan's proxy war, have plummeted by 92 per cent. These aren't just statistics; they're indicators of a deeply recalibrated threat matrix—one that gives the state an opportunity to reimagine its relationship with civil society. 'This was a litmus test," said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity. 'If we could conduct Muharram processions without a single untoward incident, it validates our counter-insurgency strategy and also builds trust with the community." Indeed, for security agencies and policymakers, this year's peaceful procession is both an operational success and a political signal: Kashmir is stable enough to allow long-banned, emotionally charged public gatherings. But not everyone is convinced of the state's altruism. Critics argue that the revival of these processions is more curated than organic. With the first Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections in the post-370 era expected later this year, sceptics see the timing as politically calculated. 'The procession is welcome, but let's not pretend this isn't about optics," said a political analyst from Kashmir University. 'It's about Delhi showing the world that Kashmir is 'normal' again." Yet, beyond the political choreography, the ground reality told a different, more hopeful story. For the first time in decades, Sunnis, Sikhs, and even Kashmiri Pandits were seen voluntarily participating—distributing water, food, and medical aid along the route. Social media was flooded with powerful images of interfaith solidarity, often captioned with lines like, 'Karbala unites where politics divides." The communal spirit was authentic, spontaneous, and deeply emotional. Symbolism in Kashmir has always carried weight. And this year, it mattered that the state didn't just allow the narrative of Muharram to unfold—it actively enabled and amplified it. The lieutenant governor's office wasn't a passive observer; it orchestrated logistics, ensured security, and even promoted the event's peaceful conduct as a hallmark of a 'new Kashmir". This is governance used as message, not just mechanism. Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, one of India's most respected voices on Kashmir, summed it up with military precision: 'In conflict zones, perception is firepower. When people march and soldiers guard—not clash—it's psychological warfare won by the state." That perception, this time, was of a Kashmir walking not in protest or panic, but in unity, memory, and peace. The Road Ahead top videos View all The 2025 Muharram procession in Kashmir was more than a march—it was a message. A message that fear can fade. That faith can find footing again. That a valley once silenced by gunfire can now echo with elegy and unity. Yes, questions linger. Will this be an annual norm or a one-off exception? Can this public expression coexist with political dissent? Will the trust extended to the people this year survive the election cycles and policy shifts? But for now, what matters is this: the 8th and 10th of Muharram are no longer banned days on a government calendar. They are once again sacred dates etched on the streets of Srinagar—with blood, with belief, and now, with state support. In Karbala, Imam Hussain chose principle over survival. In Kashmir, his mourners finally walked again—not in defiance, but in dignity. Tehmeena Rizvi is a Policy Analyst and PhD scholar at Bennett University. Her areas of work include Women, Peace, and Security (South Asia), focusing on the intersection of gender, conflict, and religion, with a research emphasis on the Kashmir region, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not reflect News18's views. tags : Article 370 Kashmir Muharram terror view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 17, 2025, 16:12 IST News opinion Opinion | Muharram Returns To Kashmir's Streets: A March Of Mourning, Resilience, And Revival Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Landslide, injuries and a death: Why the Amarnath yatra was paused for the first time this year
The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on Thursday after a woman died and three others were injured due to a landslide triggered by relentless rains along the Baltal route in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district. According to officials, the valley witnessed continuous heavy rainfall for nearly 36 hours, leading to hazardous conditions along the pilgrimage paths. This is the first time the yatra has been suspended from the Jammu base camp this year. The woman died after being struck by a falling rock, while the others sustained injuries in the incident, PTI reported. Disturbing videos emerging from the Amarnath Yatra route. Praying for the safety of all our yatris. Hope everyone stays safe and reaches home unharmed. — FK (@FaisalKhankashi) July 16, 2025 'Due to incessant rains over the last two days, restoration work is now required on the tracks along both Baltal and Pahalgam routes,' said Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bhiduri, adding that the yatra has been suspended for July 17 from both Pahalgam and Baltal base camps. However, pilgrims who had already reached the Panjtarni camp last night are being allowed to descend towards Baltal with support from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Mountain Rescue Teams. A two-day weather advisory warning of heavy rain has been issued for Jammu and Kashmir, including the pilgrimage routes. Authorities said the yatra is likely to resume on Friday, depending on weather conditions. To facilitate quick restoration, the BRO has deployed additional men and machinery to both tracks. So far, 2.47 lakh pilgrims have visited the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine since the yatra began on July 3. A total of 1,01,553 pilgrims have departed from Jammu for the valley since the first batch was flagged off on July 2 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Over 4 lakh people have registered online for the yatra this year, compared to 5.10 lakh pilgrims who visited the shrine last year. The 38-day annual pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 9.
India Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
You find foreigners in Bihar poll list but not killers in Pahalgam: Owaisi to PM
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi tore into the Narendra Modi government, wondering how the central poll body could manage to identify the presence of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas and Nepalis in Bihar's voter list ahead of the assembly elections, but failed to find out how the terrorists entered and killed 26 tourists in broad daylight in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam."You manage to find Bangladeshis, Rohingyas, and Nepalis in Bihar, but why don't you investigate how terrorists entered Pahalgam?," Owaisi asked while addressing a public meeting at Telangana's Bodhan town on Wednesday night. advertisementOwaisi said that Operation Sindoor should not be stopped until the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack are found. He further warned that he would continue to ask tough questions of the government until all four terrorists are located. "Were you sleeping? Was your administration sitting with their eyes shut while terrorists entered and killed our Hindu brothers?" Owaisi who was a member of the government's all-party global outreach delegation on Operation Sindoor, took a dig at Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, saying, "Now in July, you're admitting your mistake."He was referring to Manoj Sinha's admission to an Indian news outlet that it was a "security failure," for which he took "full responsibility".'What happened in Pahalgam was very unfortunate; innocent people were brutally killed. I take full responsibility for the incident, which was undoubtedly a security failure. The common belief here has been that terrorists do not target tourists. The location where the attack took place is an open meadow,' Sinha told Times of India in an Hyderabad MP further asked PM Modi to focus on what is happening in the neighbourhood, claiming that India has been surrounded by China on all ended his speech, saying that Pahalgam is a "prime example of PM Modi government's security lapse."- EndsMust Watch
The Print
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Terrorists behind Pahalgam attack identified, could be eliminated soon, says J&K L-G Manoj Sinha
'Terrorism has been the state policy of Pakistan, and it is in the DNA of Pakistan…since inception, it has used a terror policy post-1947, to attack Jammu & Kashmir. The recent attack was by the design and intention of Pakistan, too,' Manoj Sinha said. On the motive behind the attack, Lt. Governor Sinha said that it was to 'create communal divide and disrupt peace of state and business activity, so that Pakistan can again start recruitment of handlers'. New Delhi: The security agencies have identified the terrorists behind the 22 April Pahalgam attack, and soon, will eliminate them, Manoj Sinha said, speaking on the occasion of his completion of 5 years as the Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, at a function in Gandhi Smriti, Delhi, Wednesday. However, 'the people of Kashmir showed up and demonstrated how fed up they were with terror', he added. 'They want peace and prosperity.' Two days ago, the L-G stunned the state, saying it was a 'security failure' that led to the deaths of 26 innocent people in Pahalgam. 'What happened in Pahalgam was very unfortunate. Innocent people were killed. I took full responsibility for the incident, but it was undoubtedly a security failure,' Manoj Sinha said. Calling Pakistan the 'biggest enemy of humanity', he said that the 'global powers will have to end terrorism from Pakistan; it is the duty of the global powers'. 'Pakistan does not want prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir; our neighbour does not like peace in Kashmir. But there is a change brewing in the state, and local people have realised that their destiny and prosperity lie with India and in peace'. Quoting a Gandhi speech, Sinha said, 'Gandhi wanted peace and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir. He once said that if one has to choose between cowardice and violence, the way is violence. And, when Pakistan disturbed the peace in Kashmir, Gandhi said our Army should move forward and defeat the enemy.' In 1924, the late Mahatma Gandhi said, 'My non-violence does not admit of running away from danger and leaving dear ones unprotected. Between violence and cowardly flight, I can prefer only violence to cowardice; shunning non-violence is the summit of bravery.' Without directly saying it, Manoj Sinha cited the Gandhian philosophy as the context of the subsequent Indian attack on Pakistan. At the event, Vijay Goel, the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti Vice-Chairperson, delivered a brief speech. He said, 'Like Gandhi, Modi is bringing peace and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir'. Elaborating on the Kashmir situation since he had assumed the L-G role in 2020, Sinha said, 'Kashmir's economy has doubled. A Kashmir bank, specifically Jammu & Kashmir Bank, was running at a loss of Rs 1,300 crore, but today its profit margin stands at Rs 1,700 crore. Roughly 2.38 crore tourists visited Kashmir last year, and builders constructed 5,000 new hotels. A 1.5 lakh crore highway project is under construction here. A Tiranga Yatra took place in the village of Burhan Wani.' During the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the state was peaceful, he said. 'Not a single incident happened, and there was no question about election integrity. Forget firing, not a single pebble was thrown. Currently, people are enjoying nightlife, and children are going to school.' Operation Sindoor, Manoj Sinha said, showed that if anybody has bad intentions towards India, the country will give a befitting reply. He added that the most striking part of the operation was how the Army made use of India-made drones and other indigenously produced defence equipment to attack Pakistan. 'Prime Minister Modi has said categorically that Operation Sindoor has not ended, and if any misadventure takes place, it will be treated as an act of war,' he added. Discussing his efforts for establishing normalcy in J&K, L-G Sinha said, 'The incident of throwing stones has become history, the recruitment of handlers by Pakistan is minimal. Earlier, it recruited 150 locals, but last year, there were only six such cases, and this year, it was only one case. Radicalisation has stopped.' NIA officers showing no mercy to terrorists and public support for peace, and a change in their outlook were critical in bringing normalcy, he added. 'After abrogation of Article 370, the Prime Minister desired peace in the state, and my vision was clear on how to have peace and prosperity in the state—peace is not for buying but for establishing,' Manoj Sinha stated. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also read: 'Some screamed with every thud, others prayed'—J&K residents recall night of Operation Sindoor
