SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 13 : N. N. Vohra, Governor, today called upon all the stakeholders and the people at large to work towards restoration of lasting peace, communal harmony, amity and brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir to revive and promote the State’s past glory as an abode of peace and tranquility.
The Governor, as Chief Guest, was addressing the day-long Peace Conference organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation at Khanabal in Anantnag today.
The Governor observed that peace and normalcy are essential pre-requisites for achieving growth and development, adding that all of us, all over the State, would need to contribute for making J&K a peaceful and prosperous State. He said that the State has suffered immense loss of life and property during the unfortunate situation what obtained in the past years. He said that the stage has come for us to make a firm resolve and work devotedly towards realizing the objective of sustained peace to secure a bright future for the coming generations.
Referring to the situation that obtained in the last three summers in the Kashmir Valley, the Governor said that the education sector suffered a most irreparable loss. Consequently, many of our boys and girls lost several opportunities to make their careers, he added. Referring to some of the scholars from the SAARC countries pursuing research projects at the University of Kashmir, the Governor emphasized the need for exchange of students on a larger scale from the SAARC and other countries, observing that such exchanges promote mutual understanding and foster cooperation.
The Governor referred to several important initiatives which had been taken in Agriculture and its allied sectors and hoped that these would enable the State becoming self-reliant in agriculture produce in the coming years.
The Governor complimented Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation, and his colleagues, for organizing Peace Conferences in various parts of the State describing these as a very good effort which need to be carried forward. He sincerely hoped that today’s largely attended Peace Conference would further contribute towards deeper understandings and, in turn, usher the State into an era of lasting peace, harmony and normalcy.
The Governor was honoured by presenting to him a memento by Kifayat Ahmad Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag on this occasion.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, Chairman, J&K Peace Foundation, in his welcome address, dwelt on the aims and objects of organizing this Conference, the details of the participants, the activities of the Foundation and its future roadmap. He thanked the Governor for taking keen interest in the activities of the Foundation aimed at restoration of lasting peace, harmony, amity and brotherhood in the State.
Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Agriculture, Ms. SakinaIttoo, Minister for Social Welfare, Dr. Mehboob Beg and GhulamNabiRattanpuri, Members of Parliament, Dr. Syed Bashir Ahmad, Legislator, Prof. Abdul Wahid, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir, Lt. Gen. S. A. Hasnain, Corps Commander, 15 Corps, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, former Member of Parliament and Kh. FarooqRenzushah, Director Information also spoke on this occasion.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were Maj. Gen. Gurdeep Sing, GOC Victor Force, senior Army, Civil and Police officers, functionaries and activists of Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation.
A brief cultural programme was also presented on the occasion on the theme of peace and harmony.