Historic Ranji Trophy Win Energizes J&K Youth, Says Dr. Jitendra Singh
JAMMU, Mar 9: Union Minister in PMO with Independent Charge of Ministries of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said that the historic Ranji Trophy victory by the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team has energized youngsters across the Union Territory. Speaking today, he highlighted that the democratization of opportunities under the Narendra Modi government has led to a renewed sense of aspiration and confidence among the youth.
Talking to reporters during a luncheon felicitation of the J&K cricket team, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that while the youth of J&K have always been talented, they previously lacked opportunities and the freedom to showcase their potential. “Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) selections were not conducted as they should have been,” he added.
The Union Minister noted that JKCA had faced scrutiny in the past, with investigations ongoing. However, the hard work and dedication of the team, JKCA Sub-Committee members, and coaches helped remove the stigma associated with the association. Their efforts led to the historic Ranji Trophy win, a first in the history of Jammu and Kashmir cricket.
Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the JKCA Sub-Committee, stating that the team’s selection was fully justified. He also commended the appointments of Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta as head of the JKCA Sub-Committee and Mithun Manhas as a member, proving the critics wrong.
“The victory reflects the growing confidence and aspirations of the youth in the Union Territory,” he said. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, sustained efforts are being made to provide a level playing field for youth to realize their potential. The culture of ‘sifarish’ in sports is being eliminated.”
The Minister highlighted that transformative changes in Jammu and Kashmir accelerated after the abrogation of Article 370, bringing governance and recruitment practices in line with other states. Key reforms, such as abolishing interviews in recruitment, have increased transparency and fairness, enabling talented youth from even the remotest areas to access opportunities previously limited to influential or elite families.
Citing a recent example, he mentioned a visually challenged candidate from the Kashmir Valley, son of a labourer, who cleared the civil services exam, demonstrating that merit and determination are now key to success.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the same spirit of fairness and transparency is evident in sports. With merit-based selection, talented boys and girls from across the UT are now representing Jammu and Kashmir in various disciplines. Specifically, the Ranji Trophy victory has inspired youth, showing that they can compete with and succeed against the best teams in the country.
The felicitation ceremony concluded with the presentation of souvenirs to players in recognition of their performance and contribution to Jammu and Kashmir’s sporting identity. Present on the occasion were Brig Anil Gupta (Retd.), Head Coach Ajay Sharma, and Ranji team captain Paras Dogra.
Mithun Manhas, via a telephonic message, praised the team for making not just J&K but the entire country proud, noting that the team’s victory has been widely hailed across India. (Agency)
