Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who delivered the budget speech in the J&K Assembly on Monday (February 2, 2026), said the elections held in J&K after a gap of several years marked “a significant milestone”.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the BJP expressed disappointment over the speech and its contents.
“The past year marks a significant milestone in the democratic journey of J&K with the formation of an elected government after a gap of several years. This transition to popular governance has strengthened public faith in democratic institutions. My government has focused on restoring participatory governance, rebuilding public confidence, and ensuring that the voice of every region and community finds expression in policy-making,” Mr. Sinha said.
“Highlighting the achievements made in service delivery, road connectivity, power sector and tourism,” Mr. Sinha said, “The development trajectory of J&K continues to be guided by the foundational principles of Economy, Ecology, and Equity. These principles are not merely aspirational but serve as the guiding framework for policy formulation and implementation.”
He said notable progress has been achieved across sectors, and the government remained conscious of the need for sustained and focused efforts to ensure balanced, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable development.
“Sustained reforms in transparency, accountability, digital governance, and citizen-centric service delivery have significantly strengthened public trust and institutional efficiency,” the J&K L-G said.
During the last year, Mr. Sinha said, the J&K Government placed renewed emphasis on responsive and people-centric administration. “Regular public grievance redressal meetings at the Chief Minister’s outreach office and the strengthening of J&K Samadhan portal have ensured that governance reaches the doorstep of citizens. Thousands of grievances have been resolved through time-bound interventions, reinforcing trust between the government and the people,” he added.
Terming infrastructure development “a critical driver of economic transformation”, Mr. Sinha said, “The road sector has witnessed unprecedented investment amounting to ₹61,528 crore, encompassing expressways, National Highways, ring roads, and tunnels, significantly enhancing regional and inter-regional connectivity. In a historic milestone, the Kashmir Valley has been connected with the rest of the country through the railway network, opening new avenues for trade, tourism, and economic progress.”
Referring to the Pahalgam attack, Mr. Sinha said, despite challenges arising from security-related incidents and natural calamities, the Union Territory recorded 1.78 Cr. tourist visits in 2025. “The first-ever Chrysanthemum Garden, ‘Bagh-e-Gul-e Dawood’, has been thrown open for tourists. Just as the Tulip Garden defines our spring, Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is set to become the definitive icon of our autumn, inviting the world to witness the beauty of Kashmir during the Autumn Season,” he added.
Mr. Sinha said the government was going to introduce a major project for the sustainable development of emerging tourist destinations with investment from government funding as well as private sector participation to broaden the tourism footprint in Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said the L-G’s address lacked “will and vision of people of J&K”. “People came out and voted for the NC. First, the NC compromised on Article 370, and now Statehood is not even mentioned in the speech. In spite of having 50 MLAs, the BJP narrative is allowed to dominate, and a normalisation process is set in,” Mr. Parra said.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma said the L-G’s address was “disappointing for every section, especially the unemployed, the old and women”. “The document only mentioned central schemes. Where is the promise of free 200 units in it?” Mr. Sharma said.
Published – February 02, 2026 02:25 pm IST
