At a felicitation ceremony, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha honored the 79 cyclists who participated in the ‘Pedal for Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ rally, which was organized by the Border Security Force (BSF). The event was part of the 79th Independence Day celebrations.
The rally, composed of 40 local youth and 39 BSF personnel, covered 79 kilometers and aimed to promote national unity and a shared identity. The route took cyclists from the BSF Campus in Bandipora through Manasbal, Sumbal, Shalateng, Hyderpora, and Bakshi Stadium before concluding at the BSF Frontier Headquarters in Humhama.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha praised the BSF for its tribute to the soldiers and officers who have sacrificed for the nation. He also expressed hope that the event would inspire young people to join the BSF, Army, and Police forces. Sinha noted that the 79 kilometers represented the 79 years of India’s independence and its journey since 1947.
“From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one. The heart and soul of 140 crore Indians are united, and we are a big family of 140 crore members,” the Lieutenant Governor stated. He urged citizens to embrace the spirit of ‘Nation First’ and prioritize nation-building.
Sinha called on the younger generation to dedicate themselves to building a “Viksit Jammu Kashmir and Viksit Bharat” (developed Jammu Kashmir and developed India). He also warned against divisive elements and encouraged the public to participate in the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan (Tricolor in Every Home Campaign).
During the ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor paid tribute to the civilians killed in a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. He declared, “If the terrorist country Pakistan sheds the blood of our citizens, then it will have to pay a very heavy price,” citing Operation Mahadev and Operation Sindoor as examples of the response to such brutality.
The event was attended by IG BSF Kashmir Frontier Ashok Yadav, IG STC BSF Kashmir Solomon Yash Kumar Minz, Deputy Commissioner Budgam Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, SSP Budgam Nikhil Borkar, and other senior officials, along with the participating cyclists and a large number of local youth.
