Srinagar, June 11: Asserting that the international community was appreciating India's position on Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Governor S K Sinha today said winds of change have started blowing in the state with some encouraging developments having taken place. The international community has at last become aware of the ongoing terrorism in Kashmir and is now appreciating India's position, he said during an interaction with over 600 children who were here as part of ‘Maitree Se Ujala’ programme organised by the Army. Sinha, who took over as governor on June 4, said recently held free and fair elections have ushered in a new government in the state. Such a process of democracy did not obtain in the neighbouring country, he said apparently referring to Pakistan.
Pointing to the recent ‘kheer bhawani mela’, which witnessed an unprecedented crowd, he said the traditional communal amity displayed there had come like a breath of fresh air. Sinha expressed confidence and optimism about restoration of peace in the state saying that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had extended hand of friendship to Pakistan and that every effort was being made to contain violence perpetrated from across the border.
The governor told the young children that for the last couple of decades Kashmir had been facing Pakistan sponsored militancy due to which thousands of people had been killed. Bulk of terrorists had come from across the border sent by a hostile neighbour, he said. Bureau Report