Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 6: For the first time after Governor’s Rule, a political appointment of a senior BJP leader has been made by the Governor’s Administration in J&K, which has evoked strong reaction.
While after the dissolution of PDP-BJP Coalition Government, all the Boards including that of Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) were also dissolved and its political appointees from both the parties lost their job, but setting a new precedent, a senior BJP leader from Kashmir, Dr Hina Shafi Bhat, daughter of late Mohd Shafi Bhat of Rajbagh, Srinagar was today appointed as vice chairperson of the KVIB in the State.
The appointment order to this effect was issued today by the State Industries and Commerce Department vide its order No. 268- IND of 2018, dated 06-12-2018. Besides the appointment of Dr Hina Bhat equivalent to the status of MoS, the State administration also appointed nine other non-official Members of the KVIB, majority of whom are also associated with a particular political party.
They are- Sanjeev Kumar Manmotra from Sainik Colony Jammu, Imtiaz Ahmed from Lal Bazar Srinagar, Rajesh Gupta from Chhanni Himmat Jammu, Farooq Amin, son of Mohd Amin from Nai Basti Anantnag, Ravinder Singh, son of Sant Singh from Satwari Cantt, Ghulam Mohiuddin, son of Mohd Abdullah Gojwari from Lal Bazar Srinagar, Munshi Muzaffar Hussain from MK Chowk Hawal- Srinagar, Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi from Nishat Srinagar and Rajesh Kumar Bakshi, son of Gurcharan Bakshi from Sarwal Colony, Jammu.
PCC president, Ghulam Ahmed Mir while strongly reacting to this political appointment said that it has been done for the first time in the history of the State. He said political appointments are never made during Governor’s Rule.
Mir said all political appointees of BJP and PDP were gone when the Government collapsed few months ago. It is most unethical to install a noted BJP activist through backdoor. The Governor’s Administration must review its wrong decision, he added.
“If nearly 40 such political appointees were sent home back, why the favours were being showered on one person. Let the others also be installed as done in case of Dr Hina,” Mir remarked.
He said KVIB was already under fire and exposed for the backdoor appointments of some relatives of PDP leaders including Sartaj Madni and Mansoor. “The inquiry report is yet to come out. This new controversy has been created by the Governor’s Administration. We strongly oppose this unethical and unconstitutional act on the part of State Administration, ” Mir said.
Provincial president of National Conference Devender Singh Rana while reacting to the appointment of BJP activist as Vice Chairperson of KVIB said, ” This is height of impropriety and an unethical move on the part of Governor’s Administration. The Administration under Governor should be and believed to be neutral and apolitical but unfortunately a BJP worker has been adjusted through backdoor, which casts expersion on the credibility of Governor’s Administration.”
NPP chairman and former Minister Harsh Dev Singh said political appointments are never done during Governor’s Rule. Dr Hina Bhat is known BJP leader. If it was necessity to install new Board some non-political persons should have been inducted by the Governor. This act on the part of Administration is totally wrong and morally un-ethical. It rather, indicates that Governor is following the dictates of BJP leadership from New Delhi. It also exposes the designs of BJP in the State, Singh said.
J&K High Court Bar president from Jammu, BS Slathia while opposing such move on the part of Governor’s Administration, said such appointments should have been left to the popular Government.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta when contacted for his comments, said he was out of station and not aware of any such development. He refused to give any reaction and preferred to maintain silence. Another senior BJP leader, Narinder Singh also expressed his ignorance over the development.
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