SRINAGAR : Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today honoured 79 cyclists who participated in the Border Security Force’s ‘Pedal for Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ rally, organised as part of the 79th Independence Day celebrations.
The rally, comprising 40 local youth and 39 BSF personnel, covered a 79-km route from BSF Campus Bandipora via Manasbal, Sumbal, Shalateng, Hyderpora, Bakshi Stadium, and concluded at Frontier HQ, BSF Kashmir, Humhama. It celebrated India’s rich diversity, spirit of national unity, and a shared sense of identity.
Congratulating the BSF for its tribute to brave soldiers who have upheld the nation’s unity and integrity, the LG said the event would inspire youth to join the BSF, Army, and Police. He noted that the cyclists embodied India’s enduring tradition of courage, with each kilometre symbolising a year of the country’s independence.
“From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one. The hearts of 140 crore Indians beat as one, and we are a single family. This unity must be strengthened by putting the nation first, above personal interests,” LG Sinha said.
Calling upon the youth and all sections of society to commit themselves to the vision of a developed Jammu Kashmir and a developed India, he urged vigilance against divisive elements and participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.
The LG also paid tribute to civilians martyred in the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam, stating, “Through Operation Mahadev and Operation Sindoor, we have avenged Pakistan’s brutality. If Pakistan sheds the blood of our citizens, it will pay a heavy price.”
The felicitation ceremony 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, senior BSF, civil, and police officials, cyclists, and a large number of youth.
