Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Jul 13: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha issued a stern message against those glorifying terrorism, declaring that freedom of expression cannot be misused to promote violence and extremist ideology. Speaking at an emotionally charged event in Baramulla, where he distributed government job orders to families affected by terrorism, Sinha said the time had come for justice, healing, and a decisive break from the violent past.
“The Constitution grants every citizen the right to free speech—but this freedom cannot be a shield for those who glorify terrorism,” said Sinha. “Those trying to use terror for political gain will be held accountable. Kashmir has suffered enough bloodshed. It’s time to wipe the tears of those whose pain was silenced for decades.”
The event saw the L-G personally meet with victims’ families, including elderly parents and children of those slain in terror attacks. In a symbolic break from protocol, Sinha embraced grieving mothers and gently consoled daughters, offering comfort and solidarity. Some moments, like mothers planting blessings on the L-G’s forehead and daughters bowing with emotion, underscored the raw and long-suppressed grief of these families.
Sinha also referred to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, praising the strong and united condemnation it drew from Kashmiris. “This reaction shows the shift in the public mindset—people now want peace, education, and prosperity, not violence,” he said.
Highlighting a long-ignored chapter of Kashmir's conflict, the L-G revealed that 193 cases involving victims of terrorism have surfaced recently—many dating back to the 1990s. In 61 cases, no First Information Report (FIR) was ever filed, and affected families were denied compensation and land rights.
Posting on social media platform X, Sinha stated, “The truth about these families was deliberately buried. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism tore their lives apart, but the system failed them. This is a historic moment—to acknowledge their pain and provide them the justice, dignity, and opportunities they deserve.”
He also announced the launch of district-level helplines to register grievances from terror victim families, noting that hundreds of complaints—many involving land encroachments and property destruction—have been received.
“We are not just doing this as an administrative formality; this is a moral obligation,” he told the audience. “The culprits, whether those who pulled the trigger or those who enabled the injustice, will not be spared.”
The L-G further committed to providing jobs to surviving family members and rehabilitating those displaced or devastated by terror attacks. He emphasized that recognition and restitution for these families were long overdue and would now be pursued with full institutional support.
He concluded his address with a powerful couplet:
“There are some who will try to instil fear in your mind / You are alive this moment and this moment is alive because of you / Bad times will pass / You live your life steadfast / Whatever happens will be seen.”
As the crowd rose in applause, it was evident that for many families, the day marked not just a promise of justice—but a long-awaited acknowledgment of their loss, suffering, and dignity.