In Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and a Charkha installation, as a mark of tribute to the Father of the Nation on his Jayanti, at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar today.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said Pujya Bapu always believed that the message of Charkha's circumference is much broader than its tangible circumference. He said the goal of the Charkha is to serve mankind, to live without hurting others, to create an inseparable bond between the rich and the poor, capital and labour. He said Charkha was used as a significant tool by Bapu in the fight against British Rule and is a symbol of Swadeshi movement, self-reliance and economic freedom.

Paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the Lt Governor said the ideals of Bapu are for all humanity. He hoped that the officers in the state, inspired by Bapu's ideas and ideals, will continue to work dedicatedly for the dignity of every citizen in the society, for equality, social justice, and for a developed and self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir.

Manoj Sinha reiterated the commitment of the UT Administration to develop the villages as the centre of socio-economic growth and transform the lives of the rural population. He said the villages in Jammu & Kashmir are today witnessing unprecedented growth due to the availability of various sources of income. He said new entrepreneurs are starting their new innings from villages and in terms of basic facilities, the gaps between village and the city are disappearing.