With thousands of gun-wielding jawans occupying the deserted streets of the Kashmir Valley, Governor Satya Pal Malik hoisted the national Tricolour at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar on Thursday and said the Government is committed to facilitate safe return and rehabilitation of the Kashmir Pandits in the Valley. In Jammu, Advisor to Governor, Farooq Khan, hoisted the Tricolour at Parade Ground.
After peaceful Eid prayers, Independence Day celebrations too passed off peacefully across Jammu & Kashmir with no major incident of violence reported from anywhere in the region. However, communication blockade, completed 11th day in succession, across different parts of Valley.
Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor, Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice of J&K High Court, K Vijay Kumar, KK Sharma, KK Skandan, Advisors to Governor, Judges of the J&K High Court, BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary, Dilbag Singh, DGP and senior officers from civil, police and Central Armed Police Forces were present at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar.
In rest of the districts, the respective Deputy Commissioners presided over the Independence Day parades.
The Governor inspected the parade and took the salute at an impressive march past which was commanded by S.S.P. Manzoor Ahmad.
In his address, Governor SP Malik said,” We have adopted zero tolerance policy towards militants and our security forces are taking proactive action against militants. Militants who are carrying out isolated attacks on the security forces at the behest of their handlers across the border have lost the battle.”
The Governor said in the recent months the recruitment of new militants has witnessed a downward trend, while stone-pelting incidents after the Friday prayers have all but ended. The misguided youth are returning back to the mainstream.
“We have adopted a multi pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration that is giving positive results. The administration is seized of the problems of those residing in areas adjoining the International Border and therefore introduced the provision for grant of reservation in direct recruitment, promotion and admission in different professional courses, for them, at par with those living along the Line of Control (LoC). Similarly reservation has been extended to the Pahari Speaking People and also Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) of the Society.
Referring to the issue of return of Kashmiri pandits, Governor SP Malik said, “Kashmir is not complete without Kashmiri Pandits. My administration is committed to the safe return and rehabilitation of the Kashmir Pandits in the Valley.”
The process for recruitment against the remaining 3000 posts out of 6000 created for Kashmiri migrants and the construction of transit accommodation for the Kashmiri migrant employees serving in the Valley has been expedited. “I firmly believe that the complete return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley is possible only with the support and cooperation of all Stakeholders including the civil society of the Valley who share a social & cultural bond with the Kashmiri migrants.” He said.
He said, the march against corruption in the state has continued with increased thrust. The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) established by the administration has been further strengthened with the establishment of six Police Stations and notification of their jurisdiction. The ACB is working tirelessly to erase corruption at all levels including at the higher levels.
Addressing the gathering in Jammu, Farooq Khan underlined the need for maintaining sustained peace and tranquility to realize the cherished goals of growth and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Paying rich homage to the heroes of Indian freedom movement, the Advisor said that the independence achieved by their sacrifices can be protected by maintaining peace, tranquility and harmony in the country and Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.