For decades, a silent grief loomed over Jammu and Kashmir UT, a neglected grief stemming from families torn apart by terrorism; a neglected grief that left families struggling through the maze of indifference and bureaucratic insensitivity to survive. From last few months that narrative changed as LG Manoj Sinha changed that narrative. The ceremony yesterday 39 Next of Kin of terror victims received their appointment letters from the hands of LG at Lok Bhavan Srinagar was not merely an administrative matter, but rather a moral and emotional restoration.
In a hall saturated with the painful memories of loss, LG Sinha did what the system had failed to do for more than three decades; he listened; he acknowledged; he acted. The stories shared were tremendous; stories of children like Amir Nazir Lala who lost their father at the age of 4 years old; daughters like Pakeeza Riyaz and Shaista who have no recollection of their father only an emptiness; families like Dilawar Ganie where two generations were taken from them in one day and the silence still permeates the home today. Their decades-long agony was finally recognized; when LG stated, “For these families, the long wait for justice has finally come to an end.” His statement was not merely a political slogan, but an expression of a physical promise fulfilled.
The goal of the program is not limited to providing government employment. The program’s goal is to restore the community to a place of dignity and hope, to provide economic stability for the victims who have faced “decades of silence, stigma and poverty” as Shaista Akhtar so eloquently stated, and to provide to everyone the ability to again speak out and be part of our society. This letter providing the appointment was an acknowledgment of their suffering, validating their place in our society. The LG also stated that by empowering these voices, this administration is righting the historical wrong of allowing the victims to be “driven from our society” while the terror ecosystem received the support of the people and government.
The LG also tied the humanitarian acts of helping the victimized families to the larger, transformational change that is taking place following the repeal of Article 370. He defined the new environment in which these victimized families exist, where they are free to speak out without fear of persecution. The LG’s declaration of “zero tolerance on terrorism,” coupled with zero tolerance for the bereavement of victims, is the foundation for our new approach. The holistic approach to rehabilitation, which includes self-employment initiatives, removal of encroachments from the property of victims, and housing reconstruction plans, creates a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has demonstrated that “True Security” can only be achieved through not only defeating terrorists but also by providing healing to those who have been affected by the acts of terrorism. His commitment to fighting terrorism through the strength of the community, and providing fast justice for those perpetrators, creates an environment where justice and compassion are both fundamental components of governance.
From last few months, events occurred that mark a turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, a new era where a government stands with the innocent, where tears will be met with hope, and where the long darkness of despair for the victims of terrorism will be followed by a dawn of dignity. The government deserves the highest praise for the great show of compassion and justice that they demonstrated. It is a great reminder of how in the struggle for peace, restoring faith in the system to those people that have suffered the most is the greatest weapon.
