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| ‘Jammu Festival over; Kashmir and Ladakh carnivals to follow this summer’ | | Past 18 months period of brisk development, least violence: CM | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Apr 16
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that 2007, as well as the ongoing year, had been a period of brisk development activities and the least violence in Jammu & Kashmir, even as he hoped that the State would march ahead on the road to complete peace and progress. He said on the pattern of just concluded Jammu Festival, similar events would be held in Kashmir and Ladakh this year, adding that the rich cultural diversity of the State would be also showcased in different parts of the country.
Azad was addressing the concluding function of the fortnight long Jammu Festival here Tuesday evening. During the festival starting on April 1, around 370 different events were held throughout the Jammu province, following the decision to make the annual event a whole-province and 15-day affair instead of 3 days as was done earlier. The concluding event held at the Zorawar Singh Auditorium was a mega multi cultural event produced and directed by theatre personality, Balwant Thakur.
Noted singer and wife of Chief Minister, Mrs. Shamim Azad, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Mangat Ram Sharma, Minister for Higher Education, Gulchain Singh Charak, legislators, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and Chairman, Steering Committee, Jammu Festival, Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Tourism, Naeem Akhtar, senior officers and prominent citizens and a large number of men, women and children
were present. Describing J&K as a bouquet of multi-colour flowers, the Chief Minister said unity in diversity was its distinctive feature. He said each of the three regions of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh had individualistic cultures that complimented each other in making the State a pluralistic society. He said different cultures, languages, food and dresses of people of various areas of the State made J&K a unique place. He prayed that the walls of hatred sought to be created by some elements disappear and their hearts fill with compassion so that the State and its people progress and prosper. The Chief Minister alluded to various measures initiated by him to improve the work culture and usher the State into an era of unprecedented development activities. He said whether it was
construction of roads, hospitals and schools or waging war against corruption or improving the security situation, the scenario told a different and positive story today. He said during the past two decades, last year and the current year so far had been the best in
terms of least violence, killings of civilians and security forces' personnel and human rights violations. The period also witnessed zero incidence of custody disappearance, he added.
The Chief Minister called the holding of Jammu Festival as very successful and said that on his directions its duration was extended from three days to 15 days and from being a Jammu-city affair to a whole-province event. He said different programmes were held in all the 10 districts of the division. He said Jammu division was a kaleidoscope of diverse colours and there was a new valley and a new language or dialect beyond every mountain. He said the festival highlighted this diversity. He said about quarter to four hundred different events were held across the province during the festival. He said according to the feedback he received, as many as 5,000 to 15,000 people attended each event at different district headquarters and other places. He said similar festivals would be held this year in Kashmir and Ladakh regions. He also called for holding an event based on cultures of all the three regions, at Delhi and other parts of the country to showcase the State's rich cultural heritage. Azad complimented the organizers for successfully holding the Jammu Festival and retaining the interest of the audiences. He had a word of special appreciation for Balwant Thakur for presenting a colourful mega multi cultural event depicting unity in diversity of Jammu & Kashmir.
Earlier, Chairman, Steering Committee, Jammu Festival and Divisional Commissioner, Sudhanshu Pandey gave a brief account of the events organised during the festival. He said the festival also coincided with the celebration of the first anniversary of the four new districts in Jammu division that were created on April 1 last year. He said the success of the festival, extended to the entire region for the first time, was overwhelming. He said apart from events highlighting different cultural moods of the region, Sonu Nigam Nite, musical evening with famous santoorist, Bhajan Sopori and playback singer, Suresh Wadkar, philosophers' run, balloon ride, trekking expedition and Rock Jammu Rock musical programme were also held. He said the Chief Minister who took keen interest in the festival, was the motivating force for its successful culmination. He said the Himalayan Sport Car Rally, named as Rally of the Lakes would be held later this year. The rally, he said, would touch all lakes in the region to promote tourism.
The Director Tourism, Jammu, Ajay Khajuria read vote of thanks. |
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