Sri Krishen Kaw
Jammu: People of Kashmir set a new example of patriotism by celebrating 77th Independence day with fervour and gaiety at historical Lal Chowk in Srinagar and joined in large numbers singing patriotic songs holding tricolour in their hands along with a number of domestic tourists who had come from different parts of India participated in celebrations giving a clear cut message to militants and other anti national elements that their days of terror and dictates have gone with the wind for ever.
A large number of rallies were taken out across Kashmir in pretext of Independence day celebrations in which people from all walks of life participated. Leaders of Bhartiya Janata Party J&K unit who also enjoined tiranga rallies in Kashmir claimed that situation has changed a lot in Modi Govt as compared to previous regimes. The claim proved to be correct as sea change in circumstances was witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir after BJP came into power at centre in 2014.
Students and Youth of the valley in particular stole the show of celebrations by participating in these rallies. Talking to several youth in Srinagar told News Insider that they have a feel of their own nation India for the first time after the end of militancy in this area. General people of Kashmir have had been mostly misled and exploited previously in pretext of religion and other things but now we realize that this is our Naya Kashmir ,it is ours and we belong to it, they maintained. We want to grow, progress and develop ourselves like people of other states of India as Government of India has provided us enough facilities, infrastructure under the prime ministership of Narendra Modi, they added.
Besides participation of general public in Independence celebrations Flag hoisting ceremonies were held across Jammu and Kashmir at block levels to district headquarters and main functions were held at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar and MA Stadium in Jammu. At Srinagar Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took the salute and unfurled the tricolour where as at Jammu advisor to LG, R R Bhatnagar unfurled the tricolour and took the salute. At district headquarters district officers took the salute and unfurled the Flag. Besides the enthusiasm among student community was worth to seen. A large number of schools had organized rallies and Flag hoisting functions across Kashmir and also in Jammu to celebrate the 77th Independence day with gaiety and fervour.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while addressing a function in Srinagar said that those days when people had to dance on the tunes and dictates of militants and other anti national forces have gone with the wind for ever in J&K. Today like other festivals national festival is being celebrated with enthusiasm, fervour and gaiety at historical Lal Chowk where a grand flag hoisting took place and large number of people expressed their joy and celebrated the national festival after decades. People are on path of progress in Naya Kashmir.
He said it is very amazing that some people feel ache in their stomach when the administration was distributing land among landless people.
Talking on the return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to Valley who were putting up in different camps in Jammu and other parts of the country due to onset of armed insurgency way back in 1990s will be rehabilitated back in Kashmir in a dignified manner and there several proposals in under the consideration of Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is himself monitoring it, he added.
