Feeling left out in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in the corridors of power, the Omar Abdullah-led government on Friday urged the Union Government “one last time” to respect the mandate of the elected government and “not push them to the wall”.
This message was sent across to the Union government at the end of a two-hour-long meeting chaired by both Omar Abdullah and Dr Farooq Abdullah, in the presence of ruling party legislators and alliance partners, including independent MLAs supporting the Government.
Briefing media persons after the meeting in Srinagar, National Conference (NC) spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq, said two key resolutions opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and recent administrative decisions by the Lieutenant Governor were passed.
Sadiq said the alliance strongly condemned the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and termed it “anti-minority and anti-Muslim.” He expressed concerns over its impact on Waqf properties and the larger Muslim community in Jammu and Kashmir (J and K).
For a long time, friction was growing between the elected government and the Raj Bhawan over the implementation of the business rules in the Union Territory of J and K.
Tanvir Sadiq also told media persons the NC wants to run the government with “love and respect” and its silence should not be construed as its “weakness”, and requested the BJP-led Union government to “not push them to the wall”.
He warned that coordination with the J and K LG and the Union government should not be mistaken for weakness, adding that they are making a final appeal against unilateral decisions, particularly in the wake of recent administrative transfers ordered by LG Manoj Sinha. In a quick retort, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha asserted that all his actions have remained strictly within the framework of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Addressing recent concerns raised by the NC, Sinha clarified that he has not overstepped his constitutional limits.
I know my boundaries and I will never cross them,” Sinha said, responding to observations made during a recent NC meeting.
Congress legislator Nizamuddin Bhat reaffirmed the call for political respect and institutional integrity, stressing that “the sanctity of the legislature must be preserved.” He asserted, “New Delhi cannot govern the region through bureaucratic diktats while disregarding the voices of the peoples elected representatives.”
On the other hand, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti also launched a scathing attack on the present government, accusing it of failing to address the real issues faced by the people of J and K. She said that instead of focusing on unemployment, arrests, and the everyday struggles of youth, the Government was holding major meetings on minor matters such as the transfer of Patwaris. “This is a joke with the mandate people have given them,” Mehbooba said while addressing reporters. “Did the people vote for discussions on who will transfer a Patwari or VLW, or did they vote for a government that would speak on youth rotting in jails, unemployment, and daily raids?”
