Srinagar, Jun 23: The parliamentary panel on External Affairs on Tuesday met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here.
On the second day of its visit, the panel arrived in Srinagar and interacted with armed forces personnel.
“Today, we had a very fruitful interaction with the army officers and defence forces on how they are protecting our borders, the performance of the armed forces during Operation Sindoor, the major precautions they are taking, and their preparations for the future,” said panel member and MP, Rajiv Shukla.
He added that the most important aspect discussed was how to take local people into confidence and how to encourage bonhomie with them.
Meanwhile, the committee led by its chairman Dr. Shashi Tharoor called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhavan here, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
During the interaction, Tharoor discussed the Committee’s engagements and meetings held during the visit. He informed that the members had visited border areas in Jammu and the Regional Passport Office yesterday, and today they held detailed interactions with senior Army officials in Srinagar. The members of the Committee also shared their observations and experiences during the visit and discussed various issues.
The Lieutenant Governor, while interacting with the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, spoke about the socio-economic transformation and developmental journey of Jammu & Kashmir over the past six years. He highlighted the significant improvement in the overall security environment and the renewed optimism among the people.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that Jammu & Kashmir has undergone a remarkable transformation after August 2019, where normal life flows uninterrupted across the Union Territory, aspirations are soaring, and the dreams of its people are being realized.
He also spoke about various infrastructure and development projects being implemented across the Union Territory, which are contributing to economic growth and improving the quality of life of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
The committee members also called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam National Park.
The Committee briefed the Chief Minister about the objectives of its visit and its engagements across Jammu and Kashmir. The Committee, which had earlier visited Jammu, arrived in Srinagar today as part of its programme to gain first-hand insights into border management, security preparedness, and developmental issues in border areas.
Welcoming the members, Omar Abdullah appreciated the Committee’s visit to the region and underscored the importance of sustained engagement by Parliamentary Committees in understanding the aspirations, challenges, and developmental needs of Jammu & Kashmir. He said such interactions provide an opportunity for informed policy discussions and contribute to strengthening governance and institutional coordination.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the significance of ensuring balanced development in border areas, with a focus on improving infrastructure, connectivity, public services, and livelihood opportunities for the people living in these regions. (KNO)
