Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said that the administration will build a Gaurav Stambh in Srinagar to honour the martyrs of security forces who laid down their lives to defend the motherland
In the 76th Independence Day speech, Sinha paid tribute to the soldiers of Army, paramilitary forces and J&K Police who, he said, have kept the unity and integrity of India intact with their amazing valor and sacrifice.
“We have decided that a Gaurav Stambh shall be established in Srinagar in memory of the brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives defending our beloved motherland. I have full faith that the immortal flame of Gaurav Stambh and the museum of our brave hearts will be the center of inspiration for the new generation. I am proud of brave hearts of Jammu and Kashmir Police who have received 125 gallantry medals on the eve of Independence Day. Their sacrifices will always inspire us,” he said.
“I salute our beloved tricolor and pay tribute to all those freedom fighters and martyrs, who made the supreme sacrifice to protect this land of Pir-Vaer. My heart is filled with ever-lasting gratitude towards the brave soldiers of Maa Bharti,” he added.
Sinha said that 50,726 projects have been completed in the last financial year and 30000 government jobs have been provided to the youth. “20,000 such works/projects under execution presently have been solely identified by the people,” he said.
Sinha said that India is the mother of democracy and the country wants peace and welfare of the entire humanity, “But we are also ready to defend our freedom, sovereignty and integrity with full zeal. A befitting reply is being given to those who are trying to mislead our youth with a nefarious proxy war. A final blow is being dealt to the terror ecosystem operating at the behest of the neighboring country. We will push the last nail in the coffin of terrorism. Strike, stone pelting and protests have become things of the past,” he said.
Recalling Kashmiri poet Abdul Ahad Azad and historian and philosopher Kalhana, who is the author of Rajtarangni, a definitive history of Jammu and Kashmir, Sinhs said that Kashmir is spiritual place which has bestowed the world with wisdom and mantra of composite culture for centuries. “The mountain peaks here symbolize the devotion of Shankaracharya and the flowing rivers celebrate the devotional songs of Lal Ded. The leaves of Chinar embody the spiritual ecstasy of Nund Rishi and the deodar trees reverberate the melodies of Habba Khatoon,” he said. (Read inside pages for full text of LG’s speech)