J&K in 2025: New Horizons

New Year means many things to many people. It generates new hopes and new aspirations after the trials and tribulations faced in the previous year. The outgoing year 2024 was special to Jammu and Kashmir as it witnessed the successful Assembly Elections after nearly a decade. The will of the people to install a popular government was achieved. It does not matter as to who forms the government. What matters is that the people across all sections of the society must contribute to the festival of democracy. People of Jammu and Kashmir exhibited their enthusiasm for the elections and with their maturity showed that they want peace and normalcy. It was a referendum against terrorism and a vote for development. It goes to the credit of the Central Government and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Administration that the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory was able to restore the faith of the people in the democracy. Omar Abdullah took over as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for the second term. People have faith in his abilities to restore the faith in good governance. Age is in his favour to lead the UT towards a brighter future and he has the experience to catalyse the innovations in all spheres of public life to make Jammu and Kashmir self-sufficient in many fields. His team of ministers are too showing conviction to impose morality and a sense of duty among the public servants. The recent surprise visit of Sakina Itoo, Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare to Departments to Government Medical College(GMC),Jammu has restored the faith of common people to a great extent. During her surprise visit she underlined many shortcomings as far as health care facilities being given to the common masses is concerned. She has taken the authorities to the task. For this she deserves complete appreciation and the Chief Minister needs to be applauded for having such ministers in his cabinet who work for public welfare on priority. We hope that the New Year 2025 will bring an atmosphere of good governance and peace to UT that is much needed. In the year 2024 there was a rise in terrorist activities. The main focus of these activities was to derail the Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir but the resolve of the people and the vigil of the security personnel defeated the nefarious designs of the patrons of terror from across the borders and their mercenaries working from within. We hope that this year will witness an end to killings of innocent people, end of employment and above all creation of new avenues for the youth of the UT so that they can contribute to the development of the nation like their counterparts in other parts of India. There is a need to create new opportunities in the industrial sector so that the national players in business are encouraged to invest in Jammu and Kashmir. Neutralisation of Article 370 and 35 has ended the psychological and political barrier that created misconceptions. Now the turn is to use this opportunity to empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir across both regions so that they can witness peace and taste the fruits of prosperity after more than three decades of ethno-religious conflict. People of Jammu and Kashmir have been the victims of terrorism for a long spell that devastated numerous families besides the loss of the security forces. Terrorism also devastated the social fabric of Kashmir and led to the internal displacement of the minority community of Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to leave their homeland in 1989-1990 due to genocidal attrition. There is a need to end their exile and devise a comprehensive policy for their permanent return and rehabilitation. As their prolonged exile from Kashmir has raised many eyes on the policy premise of the continuous regimes. The Rising Kashmir has been raising the issues of the local, national and international import to sensitise the readers from time to time keeping in view the highest stands of journalism. Our editorials are meant to underline the issues that are of paramount importance for the national well-being. So that the policy makers are sensitised about the brewing challenges and the same are addressed by devising comprehensive policies for the welfare of the society and nation. We hope that our readers will continue to have faith in the Rising Kashmir so that we are able to continue as the voice of the people. Wishing our readers a prosperous and blissful New Year 2025. Let us achieve new horizons of excellence this year.