‘Delegation of more powers to LG in J&K’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 26: Strongly opposing the delegation of more powers to the Lt Governor and diluting the powers of Chief Minister and the J&K Legislative Assembly, all the opposition parties in the Jammu and Kashmir have resolved to discuss the issue in detail and device a joint strategy during a crucial meeting being held in Jammu on Aug 7.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Former Legislator and senior CPI(M) leader, Mohd Yousuf Tarigami said, “Leaders of Opposition parties are scheduled to meet on August 7, 2024 at 10 am at Hotel Raddison, in Jammu.”
“The meeting will discuss the issues concerning amendments to Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules 2019. The amendments delegate more powers to the Lt Governor on matters related to decision on Police, officers of All India Services, including IAS and IPS and their postings besides sanctioning of prosecution in various cases,” the CPI (M) leader said.
Tarigami said he himself met National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah in this connection and also took up the matter with PDP chief, Mehbooba Mufti, JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani besides other top leaders like Altaf Bukhari from Apni Party, Sajjad Gani Lone from People’s Conference and Hakeem Mohd Yasin from PDF. They all have opposed this move of the Union Government. Even the former Chief Minister and DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad has opposed this decision as appeared in the media yesterday, the former MLA said.
“You leave aside the Art 370 for a moment, this is the decision which has shocked every citizen of the Jammu and Kashmir. What is the purpose of according Statehood if you have snatched powers of MLAs, Ministers and the Chief Minister. They have humiliated the people of J&K and their elected representatives. This is very serious issues for which all the non-BJP parties should come on the single platform and get prepared for a long and decisive struggle for our snatched rights,” Tarigami asserted.
“With this anti-people decision, the BJP-led Government has snatched the powers of the J&K Legislature, Council of Ministers and made the J&K CM as dummy because most of the decisions will finally be taken by the Lt Governor. The Prime Minister and even Home Minister are claiming to provide Statehood to J&K but on the other hand, they are befooling the public by diluting the powers of CM and Legislature. Their intentions appears to be different”, he added.
JKPCC president, Vikar Rasool Wani while confirming the invitation about the conduct of All Party meeting in Jammu on August 7, said the issues related to prevailing security situation, possibility of conducting Assembly elections in J&K, Statehood and delegation of extra powers to the Lt Governor by the BJP Government are expected to be discussed in the proposed meeting.
Responding to a question, JKPCC chief said BJP is trying to reduce the J&K Legislative Assembly to the level of a Corporation or Municipality. They have already damaged a lot to the erstwhile State and its people and they still go on to snatch their rights. They have made the mockery of the J&K Legislature by snatching its powers and making the Chief Minister as dummy. Their long term strategy is to rule here from Delhi through remote control, Wani added.
“They have made bureaucrats more powerful than Cabinet Ministers in J&K. They will neither give Statehood, nor hold elections in J&K. Terrorist attacks have increased and they failed to control it. The water has gone above the heads and now it is very important to sit together and discuss and formulate a joint strategy to deal with the situation,” JKPCC chief said.
National Conference general secretary and former Minister Ali Mohd Sagar said that their party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and one or two more leaders including Provincial president from Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta, are expected to participate in August 7 Opposition parties meeting in Jammu.
Referring to the issues expected to be deliberated upon during the meeting, Sagar said after abrogation of Art 370, there are only issues and issues in J&K. The rights of the people and powers of J&K Legislative Assembly have been snatched. They have made cruel joke of the Legislature and insulted the public representatives.
Sagar said Supreme Court has directed to hold Assembly elections here but they will try to delay it due to rise in some militancy incidents in Jammu region. He said the issues of Statehood is also expected to be discussed during the meeting.
Senior PDP leaders, Naeem Akhtar and Abdul Rehman Veeri said that party president Mehooba Mufti is expected to attend the proposed meeting. They said they came to know about the holding of Opposition parties meeting at Jammu through media today and hope that some important issues related to the welfare of J&K people would come up for discussion there.
JWAM president Sunil Dimple has also been invited to the meeting and he will attend.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
