J&K Lieutenant Governor Concludes Vande Mataram Special Phase, Calls for United Effort Toward Developed India
JAMMU, MARCH 30: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the closing ceremony of the Vande Mataram Special Phase at Abhinav Theatre today, describing the national song as the country’s identity, strength, and a profound civilizational vow.
Speaking at the event, which marked 150 years of Vande Mataram, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the week-long observance from March 23 to March 30 served to commemorate Shaheedi Diwas and honor the immortal martyrs of the freedom struggle.
He noted that the collective spirit of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir is becoming an unstoppable force in the mission to build a developed nation.The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir has successfully integrated into the national mainstream, setting new benchmarks in development and patriotism through initiatives like Har Ghar Tiranga.
He pointed out that J&K has shown stellar performance in previous phases of the Vande Mataram commemorations; in the first phase during November 2025, nine of India’s top ten performing districts were from the Union Territory, with Kishtwar ranking first. In the second phase in January 2026, six districts from the region were in the top ten, led by Poonch.
Reflecting on the global landscape, the Lieutenant Governor observed that despite international turmoil spanning from Ukraine to West Asia over the past decade, India has remained resilient and continues to be the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
He urged all sections of society, including political parties and civil society, to draw inspiration from the Prime Minister’s resolve to work toward a prosperous India. Furthermore, he called for a united front to transform the “Nasha Mukt” (drug-free) campaign into a genuine people’s movement to safeguard the youth of the region.
The ceremony featured patriotic performances by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages and students from the Cluster University of Jammu. The Lieutenant Governor also visited a photo exhibition dedicated to the historic contributions of freedom fighters.
The event was attended by several Members of the Legislative Assembly, including Yudhvir Sethi, Vikram Randhawa, and Arvind Gupta, alongside Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, senior administrative officials, Vice Chancellors, and prominent citizens.