HT Interview: Jammu and Kashmir fully ready to hold assembly elections, says Lt Governor Manoj Sinha

What has changed in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five years since the abrogation of Article 370?

The most defining change is that democracy has taken deep roots here. There has been an inclusive growth that has touched all sections, especially those who have long been denied their rights and participation in development. Today, Jammu and Kashmir is on the path to peace and prosperity. Life is now as normal as anywhere else in the country. Visitors to Srinagar are surprised to find a vibrant nightlife that was unimaginable a few years ago. The Union Territory is now a model of urban transformation. It is visible everywhere, be it the revamped Lal Chowk or the Polo Market. The common man feels empowered and does not follow someone else’s dictate. We have managed to put systems in place. Transparency, accountability and financial prudence have become important factors in governance that were missing before 2019.

What are the tangible signs of the Narendra Modi government’s promise of a ‘New Kashmir’?

There are five key sectors worth mentioning. The pace of adoption is now 10 times higher than before 2019. With the implementation of the Public Services Guarantee Act, citizens can now use over 1,100 time-limited online services compared to just two dozen five years ago. The user acceptance rate is close to 85%, which has strengthened people’s trust in the government. We are now a good model of e-government.

In the field of infrastructure and communications, highway and tunnel projects worth ₹1.5 lakh crore is underway. When I took over as Lt Governor in 2020, it used to be eight hours to travel from Jammu to Srinagar. Now it is five hours. This year, the Katra-Delhi green expressway will be launched. From 20-22 flights, Srinagar now has 140 flights a day. The number of flights from Jammu has gone up from half a dozen to 48 a day. New terminals are being built at both the airports.

The Kashmir-Kanyakumari railway line will be operational this year. The Prime Minister’s development plan, formulated in 2015 after the Kashmir floods, was slow. We gave it a boost. Today, 35 projects have been completed and 18 more will be inaugurated this year.

The three-tier panchayati raj has been strengthened despite its late implementation here. Fresh elections to panchayats and urban local bodies will be held in the near future as the parliament approved a provision for reservation of OBCs in these institutions.

A major transformation is underway in agriculture, horticulture and related sectors. A comprehensive plan of 29 productivity-boosting projects, launched last year, will double the sector’s share of the state’s gross domestic product in five years.

A record number of tourists are flocking to Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, the number was 2.11 crore. Tourism and hospitality are now an industry. The success of the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar has increased the inflow of foreign tourists by two and a half times.

In the six decades since 1947, Jammu and Kashmir has attracted private investment ₹14,000 crore. Among all the States and Union Territories, our new industrial policy offers the best incentives, including the cheapest power. Today, we have investment proposals to the tune of Rs 1.2 lakh crore. Of this, projects worth around ₹Works worth Rs 7,000 crore have been commissioned and the remaining ₹20,000 crore projects are under implementation. Regressive land laws have been changed to create a land pool for industries.

Jobs are a big issue here. In the last five years, we have created around 43,000 government jobs. The state is already overworked, with 4.8 lakh approved posts for a population of 1.4 crore. So, the focus is on self-employment. Eight lakh youth have been given financial assistance for businesses. Nine lakh women are now associated with self-help groups.

In hydropower, we will almost double our generation by commissioning four major projects in 2026-27. This will make us self-sufficient. The pace of implementation has increased 10-fold due to transparency and accountability.

What do you think is the mood there?

The most telling indicator of this is the 58% voter turnout in the last Lok Sabha elections, something Jammu and Kashmir had not seen in 35 years. People have come to believe in democracy and have gone beyond the slogans of self-rule. “Vidhan Sabha chunav mein bhi log jam ke aur jhoom ke vote dalenge (There will be a record voter turnout in the assembly elections).”

What do you think about the increase in terror attacks in Jammu region, which has been free of violence for the last two decades?

Our focus is on the Kashmir Valley. The security forces have eliminated all the top commanders of the terrorist organisations. The local recruitment is almost zero. For the last one and a half years, our neighbour (Pakistan) has been trying to create peace in Jammu. They were worried and frustrated by the success of the G-20 meeting and the Lok Sabha elections. The fact is that there has been infiltration. Those who have come are trained terrorists. Due to relative peace for the last two decades, the deployment of security forces in the higher reaches has been limited. The terrorists have taken advantage of this. Our counter-strategy is already in place. Re-deployment has been done in the mountains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is monitoring the situation. In the coming months, Jammu will be as normal as before.

Could the terrorist threat pose a threat to the peaceful conduct of parliamentary elections in the next three months?

I don’t think so. The Election Commission team will come on August 8 and 9. Once they take a decision, the Jammu and Kashmir administration will be fully prepared to conduct the elections.

Jammat-e-Islami, which is banned for its secessionist ideology, has hinted at contesting the elections if the ban is lifted. Is the government considering changing Jamaat’s views?

If someone wants to contest elections and expresses faith in the Indian constitution, they can do so. But the ban on Jamaat will not be lifted.

Some major opposition parties say the tourism boom is not a true indicator of normalcy because there has been an increase in terror. They lament the trampling on civil liberties.

We cannot go by some criteria of normalcy. The numbers speak for themselves. There is no stone-pelting and hartals that were the rule before 2019. Schools, businesses and traffic are functioning normally. No top commander of any terrorist organization is surviving. Killings of civilians and security forces have come down drastically. Ask a common man what normal life looks like now. If some people do not see this change, the flaw lies in their vision. When it comes to civil society and press rights, there is complete freedom. But when it comes to the security, unity and integrity of the country, there is a fine line that no one can cross.

The Centre has given more administrative and legal powers to the LG in J&K. What is the justification when we are moving towards having an elected government?

These powers were already contained in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which was passed by Parliament and upheld by the Supreme Court. No changes have been made to it. The home ministry has only notified the LG of these powers.

But the opposition claims that such action will deprive the elected prime minister of power?

It does not have to be seen that way. The elected government acts in the interest of the people. If the government’s plan is to ensure peace, progress and prosperity, where is the conflict? I can assure you that I will fully cooperate with the elected government.

Major parties in Kashmir have accused the Centre of supporting their representatives in the Valley?

Not at all. The Lok Sabha elections were the most transparent poll Kashmir has seen in decades.

In the Lok Sabha elections, an independent candidate, Engineer Rashid, imprisoned in Tihar under UAPA, was elected from Anantnag. Is there a fear that other imprisoned persons, imprisoned for secessionist activities, may contest the assembly elections and get elected?

It depends on the people. They should remember to elect only those who can contribute to the development and peace of Jammu and Kashmir.