Terrorists Hiding In J&K’s Rugged Terrains Will Be Eliminated Soon: L-G Manoj Sinha

Speaking at the Strategic Management Forum Conference on Policy Making and Strategic Planning for Achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, Sinha also called for an end to the divisive “insider–outsider” narrative, asserting that such rhetoric hampers J&K’s development. The three‑day conference is being organised by the IIM Jammu in collaboration with the Strategic Management Forum (SMF) and NITI Aayog.

In his keynote address, the Lt. Governor highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing India in a rapidly changing global environment and underscored the crucial role of policymakers and business leaders. He stressed the need for macroeconomic stability, higher investment in education and healthcare, and the adoption of digital tools to strengthen participatory governance, transparency, accountability, and efficient public service delivery.

He said that the values and principles of India’s forefathers, along with the ethos of good governance, would guide the nation through present challenges toward a prosperous future. Policies, he emphasised, must reflect the needs of people, industry, trade, and business, ensuring that all stakeholders are heard. Balancing industrial growth with social welfare initiatives, he added, remains essential.

Sinha noted that India’s rapid growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unprecedented. “Wherever I go, I see our great nation moving towards progress and prosperity. Our manufacturing and services sectors are showing impressive growth, and there is renewed confidence among industry leaders. Village industries, handloom, and handicraft sectors are also competing with the best, boosted by the Prime Minister’s call for Swadeshi,” he said.

He added that inclusive and equitable growth lies at the core of the Prime Minister’s vision, with government policies focused on job creation, support for small businesses, increased public investment, and financial empowerment of the middle class and entrepreneurs.

Reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that the benefits of initiatives like Modern India and Digital India reach the grassroots, the Lt. Governor said that decentralised governance has brought significant positive change. Efforts, he noted, are underway to ensure that policies remain responsive, ethical, and action‑oriented, reflecting a people‑first approach.

Sinha also underlined the vast but underutilised potential of J&K’s mining sector. “J&K holds immense potential in limestone, sapphire, lithium, and other minerals. With strategic planning, we can generate an additional annual revenue of ₹15,000 crore to ₹20,000 crore in the next 5–7 years,” he said. He further called for maximising the hydropower sector and suggested amendments to the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) to align it with evolving economic needs.

During the event, the Lt. Governor inaugurated the Basohli Painting Exhibition and presided over the valedictory session of the Basohli Painting workshop, where artists were felicitated. “Basohli Painting is our priceless artistic heritage, holding immense value for present and future generations. I commend IIM Jammu and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) for this unique initiative,” he said.

The inaugural session was attended by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director IIM Jammu, R.K. Chaudhary, Chairman, Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for J&K and Ladakh, Subash Chandra Meena, Economic Advisor, NITI Aayog, Prof. Arunaditya Sahay, Founding Chairman, SMF, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, IGNCA Regional Director Shruti Awasthi along with academicians, policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, artists, and students.