Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 13: Political parties in Kashmir today voiced their strong opposition to the Centre’s move to vest more powers in the Lieutenant Governor for taking decisions on matters related to police and All-India Service officers.
The National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said the decision would “disempower” the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress termed it as the “murder of democracy” and the Apni Party urged all parties to shun differences and unitedly protest against the move.
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NC vice president Omar Abdullah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve better than a “powerless, rubber stamp” Chief Minister who will have to beg the LG to get a peon appointed.
He said the move was “another indicator that elections are around the corner in J&K”.
“This is why a firm commitment laying out the timeline for restoration of full, undiluted Statehood for J&K is a prerequisite for these elections. The people of J&K deserve better than powerless, rubber stamp CM who will have to beg the LG to get his/her peon appointed,” Abdullah said.
NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq termed the decision “a blatant misuse of power” by the BJP-led government at the Centre to “disempower” the people.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter and her Media Advisor, Iltija Mufti, said the order seeks to disempower the powers of an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“At a time when there’s been considerable speculation about GoI holding elections in J&K, this new MHA order widening the already unbridled powers of an unelected LG make a few things abundantly clear,” Iltija Mufti said in a post on X.
She said the order makes it clear that Assembly elections will be conducted this year itself, and that the Centre “is well aware if & when State elections are held in J&K a non-BJP Government will be elected”.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani termed the move a “murder of democracy”.
“The murder of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is evident before the restoration of proper democracy and Statehood. MHA gave more powers, including the Police, Law and order, and the transfer of officers etc have been vested in the LG,” Wani said on X.
Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari appealed to Jammu and Kashmir’s political parties to shun differences and unitedly raise voices against the Centre’s move.
“This new decision aims at making the State hollow in which no powers will be left for an elected Government… The people of Jammu and Kashmir do not support this,” Bukhari said at a press conference here.
Bukhari, a former Minister, said if the Centre wants to create a “powerless Assembly” in Jammu and Kashmir, it will not be acceptable.
“If they want the Chief Minister to be a toothless tiger and befool the people, then I do not think this will solve any of the issues confronting the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
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