L-G Manoj Sinha hails J&K's new chapter at Pedal Through Paradise event
Synopsis
L-G Manoj Sinha used the 'Pedal Through Paradise' cycling felicitation in Srinagar to deliver a pointed message: J&K's identity is no longer tethered to its troubled past. By spotlighting police-led civic outreach, youth sporting achievement and a call for a drug-free region, Sinha is projecting a deliberate rebranding of the territory — from conflict zone to a land of possibilities.
Key Takeaways
L-G Manoj Sinha felicitated winners of the 'Pedal Through Paradise' cycling event in Srinagar on 29 October 2026 .
He declared that J&K's story now reflects the efforts of the present and possibilities of the future , not just the challenges of the past.
Sinha praised Jammu and Kashmir Police for combining security with community outreach through Civic Action Programmes.
He called for a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir , urging all sections of society to support rehabilitation with empathy.
Senior officials including DGP Nalin Prabhat and officers from the BSF , Home Guards and civil administration attended the ceremony.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday, 29 October 2026, declared that the story of Jammu and Kashmir is no longer defined solely by the hardships of its past, asserting that it now reflects the energy of present efforts and the promise of future possibilities. His remarks came as he felicitated winners of the 'Pedal Through Paradise' cycling event in Srinagar, organised under the civic outreach initiatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
A New Narrative for J&K
Addressing a gathering of participants, senior police officers and civil administrators, L-G Sinha said the event embodied the optimism, self-confidence and vibrant spirit of a new Jammu and Kashmir, driven by the talent and aspirations of its youth. He emphasised that the achievements of the cycling event's winners symbolise the region's changing face and underline the capacity of young people to contribute to inclusive growth and national development.
'The story of Jammu and Kashmir is no longer confined to the challenges of the past but it is also the story of the efforts of the present and the possibilities of the future,' Sinha said at the felicitation ceremony.
J&K Police's Expanded Role in Community Outreach
L-G Sinha commended the Jammu and Kashmir Police for extending their mandate beyond conventional security and law enforcement through meaningful community programmes. He noted that initiatives such as 'Pedal Through Paradise' and 'Jashn-e-Dal' go beyond competitive sport — they instil discipline, perseverance and resilience among participants and forge bonds of trust between security forces and citizens.
'Initiatives such as 'Pedal Through Paradise' are testimony to the fact that the Jammu and Kashmir Police have combined security with compassion, discipline with inspiration, and duty with social commitment, so that bonds of the heart may be forged with the people of Jammu and Kashmir,' he said.
He added that the Civic Action Programmes of the police have opened new avenues for youth engagement, skill development and sporting excellence, fostering confidence and constructive participation across the region.
Youth at the Centre of Progress
The L-G underscored that Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as a land of possibilities where young people are excelling across sports, education, innovation and entrepreneurship. He stressed that genuine regional progress hinges on ensuring youth have access to opportunities, belief in their own abilities, and a strong sense of unity.
'I have always emphasised that the true upliftment of any region occurs when its youth have faith in their eyes, opportunities in their hands, and a feeling of unity in their hearts,' Sinha said, expressing confidence that events like 'Pedal Through Paradise' would inspire further contribution to national development.
Call for a Drug-Free J&K
Sinha also reiterated a strong call for building a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir, urging all sections of society to support and rehabilitate those affected by substance abuse with empathy and care. He called upon stakeholders to adopt three collective resolves: advancing peace, driving progress, and building a healthy, prosperous and secure Jammu and Kashmir.
'All sections of society must participate in the fight against drugs. We must take three resolves today — first, we will always move forward for peace, we will move forward for progress and we will move forward to build a healthy, prosperous, secure, and bright Jammu and Kashmir,' he said.
Key Attendees
The felicitation ceremony was attended by Nalin Prabhat, Director General of Police; S.J.M. Gillani, Special Director General, Coordination, Police Headquarters; Abdul Ghani Mir, Commandant General Home Guards; Nitish Kumar, Additional Director General of Police, J&K Armed Police; Ashok Yadav, ADG of the Border Security Force; Alok Kumar, Director, Fire and Emergency Services; along with senior police and civil administration officers, members of cycling associations, prominent citizens, and a large number of youth.
The ceremony signals a continued push by J&K's administration to reframe the region's identity through sport, community engagement and youth empowerment — with more such programmes expected in the coming months.
Point of View
But they carry clear administrative intent — to shift J&K's dominant narrative from security management to youth-led development. The deliberate invocation of police-community bonding alongside drug-free pledges signals that the administration views soft power as integral to the post-Article 370 consolidation project. Whether these civic events translate into lasting attitudinal change, particularly among youth in rural and border districts, remains an open question that deserves scrutiny beyond the optics of felicitation ceremonies.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Pedal Through Paradise' event in Jammu and Kashmir?
'Pedal Through Paradise' is a cycling event organised under the Civic Action Programmes of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, designed to promote youth engagement, sporting excellence and community bonding. L-G Manoj Sinha felicitated the event's winners at a ceremony in Srinagar on 29 October 2026.
What did L-G Manoj Sinha say about Jammu and Kashmir's future?
L-G Sinha said that J&K's story is no longer confined to the challenges of the past but also reflects the efforts of the present and the possibilities of the future. He highlighted the region's emerging strengths in sports, education, innovation and entrepreneurship, driven by its youth.
How is the J&K Police involved in community outreach?
The Jammu and Kashmir Police runs Civic Action Programmes, including events such as 'Pedal Through Paradise' and 'Jashn-e-Dal', to extend their role beyond law enforcement into youth empowerment, skill development and community trust-building. L-G Sinha commended these efforts at the felicitation ceremony.
What did L-G Sinha say about drugs in J&K?
L-G Sinha reiterated a call for building a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir, urging society to support and rehabilitate those affected by substance abuse with empathy. He called on all stakeholders to collectively resolve to move forward for peace, progress and a healthy, prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
Who attended the 'Pedal Through Paradise' felicitation ceremony?
The event was attended by senior officials including DGP Nalin Prabhat, Special DG S.J.M. Gillani, Commandant General Home Guards Abdul Ghani Mir, ADGP Nitish Kumar, BSF ADG Ashok Yadav, and Fire and Emergency Services Director Alok Kumar, along with cycling association members, citizens and a large number of youth.
