Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, today met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to discuss key issues related to the welfare and rehabilitation of families affected by cross-border shelling from Pakistan.

Sharma was accompanied by prominent BJP leaders including Sat Sharma, President BJP J&K; Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, MLA from Ramgarh; and Dr. Narinder Singh Raina, MLA from R.S. Pura (Jammu South).

During the meeting, the delegation apprised the Lieutenant Governor of the challenges faced by residents living in border areas, particularly those who have suffered loss of life, property, and livelihood due to frequent ceasefire violations and shelling incidents.

The LoP urged the administration to expedite relief measures, enhance compensation, and implement long-term rehabilitation plans for the affected families. He also emphasized the need for improved infrastructure, healthcare, and education facilities in border villages to reduce their vulnerability.

LG Manoj Sinha assured the delegation that the administration is fully committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of citizens living in vulnerable areas and said the government would continue to take concrete steps for their support and rehabilitation.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today visited the historic Gurudwara Chatti Padshahi at Rainawari in Srinagar and paid obeisance at the revered shrine. The visit marked a significant outreach to the Sikh community in the region.

During his visit, the Deputy Chief Minister was warmly received by members of the District Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC), Srinagar, led by its President, Jaspal Singh. The delegation raised several issues of community concern with the DyCM.

Among their key demands was the declaration of a public holiday on June 12 instead of July 5 to commemorate the Prakash Utsav of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, in accordance with the Nanak Shahi Samvat 557 calendar issued by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar.

The DGPC also called for the conversion of May 30, currently observed as a restricted holiday, into a gazetted holiday to mark the Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

While interacting with the members of the delegation, Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the Sikh community in realising their aspirations. He assured the DGPC that he would take up their concerns with the relevant authorities for early redressal.

The DyCM also offered prayers at the shrine for the peace, progress, and prosperity of the people of Jammu and Kashmi

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting with key infrastructure agencies to assess progress on various national highway (NH) projects across Jammu and Kashmir. He called for fortnightly physical and financial progress reports from executing agencies to ensure strict monitoring and timely completion of all ongoing works.

The meeting was attended by top officials including the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests), Principal Secretary (Finance), Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Deputy Commissioners, Chief Engineers of PWD, and senior representatives from NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, Beacon, and Project Sampark.

Dulloo emphasized that these highway projects are being monitored at the highest levels of government, and instructed officials to submit weekly updates to the PWD and biweekly reports to his office. He also directed that reports should identify individuals responsible for any delays, warning that a lackadaisical approach would not be tolerated and would invite disciplinary action.

“Work in double shifts where necessary. The administration is ready to provide all required support,” Dulloo assured the agencies.

Finance Secretary Shailendra Kumar urged Deputy Commissioners to support agencies in identifying designated mining blocks to ensure uninterrupted supply of raw materials for construction.

Key Projects Reviewed

Under NHAI:

• Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway (various phases)
• Ring Road Jammu (including tunnel construction)
• Ramban–Banihal section of NH-44
• Marog–Digdol and Digdol–Khuni Nallah tunnels
• Makarkot–Sher Bibi viaduct
• Ring Road Srinagar (multiple sections)

Under NHIDCL:

• Zojila Tunnel
• Jammu–Akhnoor Road
• Chenani–Sudhmahadev Road
• Goha–Khellani and Khellani–Khanabal Highway
• Singhpora–Vailoo Tunnel

Under BRO (Project Beacon & Sampark):

• Srinagar–Baramulla–Uri Highway
• Rafiabad–Kupwara–Tangdhar Highway
• Surankot–Narbal Highway
• Khanabal–Baltal Highway
• Akhnoor–Poonch Highway
• Shopian–Surankot Road
• Rajouri–Thannamandi–Surankot and Budhal–Mahore–Gul Road

R&B Projects:

• Flyover at Sanat Nagar
• NH-444 (Srinagar–Budgam–Pulwama–Shopian–Kulgam–Qazigund)
• Bypass roads for Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian towns
• Road safety and strengthening works across J&K

Focus on Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) Phase-II

In a parallel meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo reviewed preparedness for implementation of Phase-II of the Vibrant Villages Programme, aimed at transforming life in border villages across Jammu and Kashmir.

Attended by the Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department (PD&MD) and respective Deputy Commissioners, the meeting stressed the need for designating nodal officers, preferably Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), for effective execution of VVP in their areas.

“The programme should be aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of inclusive and sustainable border development,” Dulloo said.

He instructed the Planning Department to integrate various government schemes like HADP, Mission YUVA, Daksh Kisan, and JKRLM to build model villages showcasing strengths in agriculture, horticulture, skilling, and tourism.

He also directed DCs to complete service and infrastructure gap analyses, form District and UT-level committees, and expedite submission of the first batch of Village Action Plans (VAPs) to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Secretary PD&MD Talat Parvez Rohella informed that 124 border villages in 43 blocks across eight districts—Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara—have been selected under the programme. Additionally, four vulnerable villages in Poonch have been recommended due to cross-border displacement.

In a strong message following the recent cross-border shelling, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today announced Government jobs for one family member of each person killed in Pakistan’s unprovoked firing and declared a comprehensive Central relief package for rebuilding homes and commercial properties damaged during the attacks. He emphasized that Operation Sindoor—India’s retaliatory strike on terror camps in Pakistan—was not over, but only suspended.

During his extensive visit to Rajouri and Poonch, the LG met with affected families, interacted with the injured at hospitals, reviewed security with top officials, and paid homage to the martyrs, including Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa, who was killed in the enemy shelling.

“We have taken an important decision. One member from every family of those martyred in Pakistan shelling will get a Government job,” Sinha announced.

He further stated that the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, will approve a special rehabilitation package for damaged properties and ensure construction of individual and community bunkers under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme to protect civilians from future attacks.

Addressing the media and citizens, the LG said that the recent wave of shelling was Pakistan’s response to Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian Armed Forces struck nine terrorist launchpads deep inside Pakistan and PoJK in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

“India never supports war, but it will not hesitate to defend its people. The terrorists and their sponsors who executed the Pahalgam killings were taught a lesson,” Sinha asserted.

The LG said that no civilian or military Indian targets were attacked during Operation Sindoor, only terror sites. Despite this, Pakistan retaliated by targeting civilian populations, resulting in 16 deaths—including 13 in Poonch (four of them children) and three in Rajouri.

During a high-level security review in Poonch, Sinha hailed the Indian Armed Forces for their swift and effective operation.

“Operation Sindoor is a symbol of India’s military strength. The whole world is witness to our Armed Forces dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan,” he said. “Our forces have demonstrated that there is no area in Pakistan that cannot be reached if provoked.”

The LG didn’t mince words on Pakistan’s financial and moral bankruptcy.

“They borrow money to fuel terrorism. But the pain we’ve inflicted will not be forgotten. If they attempt another misadventure, they will be crushed. Their seven generations will remember the consequences.”

Sinha also condemned Pakistan for targeting religious places—including Gurudwara Dera Santpura Nangali Sahib, a temple, and a mosque—in what he called an attempt to disrupt India’s social fabric.

“The people of Poonch, especially the Sikh community, have shown immense courage. Their unity has strengthened the resolve of our soldiers,” he said after paying his respects at the Gurudwara.

Later, during his visit to Dungus, one of the heavily shelled areas, the LG chaired a meeting with senior officials and directed immediate steps for restoration of essential services, construction of bunkers, medical service upgrades, and reinforcement of civil defence mechanisms. He also called for an Action Taken Report (ATR) to be submitted to the Divisional Commissioner and Chief Secretary.

The LG was accompanied by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, IG Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, and Deputy Commissioner Poonch Vikas Kundal, among others.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today visited border areas in Rajouri district to meet families affected by the recent unprovoked heavy shelling from across the border by Pakistan. He also took stock of relief, rehabilitation and damage control measures being undertaken in the region.

During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor went to the Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri, where he inquired about the health and recovery of civilians injured in the shelling. He interacted with doctors and patients, assuring all necessary support from the administration.

The LG was briefed by Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, regarding the current ground situation, availability of essential services, emergency response, and the disbursement of relief to affected families. He was also informed about the extent of property and livestock damage and the need for additional underground bunkers in the district to ensure civilian safety.

In a solemn moment during the review meeting, the gathering paid homage to Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa, the Additional District Development Commissioner of Rajouri, who lost his life in the line of duty during the enemy shelling in a civilian area.

Later in the day, LG Sinha visited Nowshera, one of the worst-hit sectors, and assessed the damage to residential homes and public infrastructure. He met with local residents and listened to their grievances and safety concerns, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to ensuring their protection and speedy rehabilitation.

“The Government of India is fully committed to the safety and well-being of every citizen living in the border areas. Every effort will be made to strengthen relief, infrastructure, and protection mechanisms,” LG Sinha assured.

The visit comes amid escalating ceasefire violations from across the border, heightening tensions and endangering civilian lives in frontier districts.