Srinagar, Oct 1: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday addressed the closing ceremony of the Kashmir Marathon – Run for Unity, commending the enthusiasm of the youth and congratulating participants in the event organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Sinha said the marathon had become a symbol of peace, unity and progress in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Run for Unity race is not merely the speed of our steps. It is the speed of our resolve and it is the speed of that faith which tells us that when people walk together, no destination remains impossible,” he said.
‘Unity is India’s strength’
Highlighting India’s diversity, the Lieutenant Governor said differences in language, traditions, food and attire do not change the country’s shared identity.
“Despite differences in language, tradition, food, and attire, the heartbeat of India remains one. Unity is India’s strength, and when millions of steps move in one direction, even the highest mountains can be crossed,” he said.
He said the participation of thousands of young people in the marathon conveyed that “no goal is too distant for a united India.”
Sinha described the youth participation as an investment in a shared future, saying the runners represented a generation aspiring for a better India and working towards making Jammu and Kashmir a self-reliant and developed Union Territory.
LG urges youth to stay away from drugs
Sinha urged young people to embrace discipline, fitness and brotherhood and stay away from drugs.
He recalled the success of the 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Campaign, which, he said, involved thousands of young people through padyatras and civic action programmes.
He also called upon the youth to become ambassadors of the Fit India Movement and contribute to nation-building.
“The real victory of a marathon lies not just in reaching the finish line, but in holding each other’s hands and moving forward together,” he said.
Sinha called for a shared resolve towards a common future.
“Though we may have come from different paths, our destination is one. Our identities may be many, but our national identity is one. Our pace may differ, but our India is one, unbroken, and with the resolve of a Developed India @2047, it is continuously moving forward,” he said.
Over 6,000 runners participated
More than 6,000 runners participated in different categories of this year’s Kashmir Marathon – Run for Unity.
DGP Nalin Prabhat, ADGP Armed Police Nitish Kumar, ADGP CID M.K. Sinha, senior officers of the Police and Civil Administration, sports personalities and a large number of young people attended the closing and felicitation ceremony.
