J&K Marks 80th Independence Day with Honours Wave as Farooq Renews Statehood Demand
Jammu and Kashmir observed its 80th Independence Day with a substantial wave of gallantry and meritorious service awards for police and administrative personnel, as officers named in successive medal lists were recognised on August 15 for courage and public service. Against this ceremonial backdrop, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, speaking on the eve of the holiday, renewed his call for the restoration of statehood to J&K, describing it as among the most urgent democratic requirements the union territory faces.
Farooq: Statehood Restoration Is Most Urgent Necessity
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, addressing a gathering in Srinagar on Thursday August 13, called the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir an indispensable first step towards rebuilding democratic institutions and restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the people. The three-time former chief minister was direct and unambiguous, describing the move as one of the most urgent necessities before J&K. Restoration of statehood is an indispensable first step towards rebuilding democratic institutions and restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the people, he said. Abdullah's remarks came on the eve of India's Independence Day and framed the statehood question not merely as a political preference but as a prerequisite for functioning democracy in the region. Beyond J&K's own circumstances, the NC president also spoke about global conflicts, expressing concern over continuing wars, violence, oppression, and human rights violations in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and other parts of the world. He called the targeting of innocent children, women and elderly people deeply tragic and a grave concern for humanity, placing J&K's democratic situation within a broader frame of international humanitarian concern. [5]
🗳️ Gallantry Medals Flow as J&K Honours Police and Transfers Officers on Independence Day
Jammu and Kashmir's 80th Independence Day was accompanied by a significant round of police and administrative recognitions. J&K Police received nine Gallantry Awards on the eve of August 15, and 38 personnel including officers Rajiv Pande, Shiv Kumar, Shobhit Saksena, Divya D, Mushtaq and Nasir were awarded the J&K Police Medal for Gallantry. In a separate category, 13 officers including Sandeep Mehta and Amit Gupta received the J&K Police Medal for Meritorious Service, while six officers including Sarah Rizvi and Mohd Rayees received an additional tranche of Meritorious Service medals. IPS Officer Sajid Farid Shapoo, of the Madhya Pradesh cadre and originally from J&K, was awarded the President's Police Medal, a high national distinction. On the civilian side, Anil Sharma and KK Sidha were among five officials to receive the Chief Minister's Award for Honesty, Integrity and Meritorious Public Service on Independence Day. In administrative moves, the J&K Home Department promoted four officers to the rank of Joint Director, while the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi simultaneously relieved six IPS officers for duties in J&K and Ladakh. A J&K court separately sentenced an Executive Engineer to four years in prison in a corruption trap case, and the government modified a file-routing administrative order directing all files through JKAS Officer Rajinder Sharma. [8]
Sources: [5] Deccan Herald · [8] Cross Town News