After ten years Jammu and Kashmir has got a new Governor, Satya Pal Malik. He has years of political experience in Uttar Pradesh and on the national stage. He is known for his outreach across the political spectrum. Malik is well-read and articulate. Those who have known Malik as a politician are of the opinion that he would have soft approach towards Jammu and Kashmir.
Bharatiya Janata Party led NDA government preferred a man with a political background and experience as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and ignored Army Generals and security experts.
Malik has been associated with various political parties. He has worked closely with the late Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. He was Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation when Mufti was the Home Minister of India. Both had joined the Jan Morcha of VP Singh when it was formed in 1988.
A notion is being created that the new Governor would promote BJP’s agenda in J&K. This myth has to be broken to reassure the people and all the political parties that he is in J&K to listen to all. A few people are trying to highlight that Malik was BJP’s national Vice-President and he would always have a soft corner for the BJP. These people need to be reminded that Governor’s post is a constitutional position, which has got nothing to do with the political affiliations. And Malik is not the only politician who has been appointed as a Governor of any state. Till date many politicians who had affiliations with different parties have been appointed as Governors of different states.
Malik’s appointment as J&K Governor would help New Delhi to tackle the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in a better way as the Kashmir based political parties can put forth their point of view in a much better way before a person who has got the political background. Having an Army General or a bureaucrat as the new Governor of the state could have added to the prevailing chaos and would have sent a message that using “danda” is the only solution.
The Governor Malik recently said that resolving Kashmir issue is not within his domain and he is in Jammu and Kashmir to provide governance. Malik gave a loud and clear message to the mainstream parties in Kashmir that whenever they get a chance to run the state they should focus on governance rather than talking about Kashmir issue and talks between India and Pakistan.
Centre appointing a politician to run a volatile state like J&K is an indication that New Delhi wants political process to remain alive. Malik’s appointment has dispelled the notion that New Delhi wants to follow the muscular policy in J&K. Soon after Malik took over the reins of the state he allowed the legislators to use their constituency development funds and asked them to ensure that developmental works don’t suffer. He made it clear that doors of the Raj Bhavan would remain open for the people 24×7 and directed the officials to ensure that common people are provided all the possible help.
Soon after Malik was appointed as the new Governor of Jammu and Kashmir a few people tried to create a notion that the Governor Vohra has been replaced to pave way for the revocation of the Article 35A but Malik proved the critics wrong and ensured that J&K government remains firm on its decision to seek deferment of the hearing. And it happened.
Just within a few days Governor Malik has dropped enough hints that he means business. Supreme Court deferring the hearing in the Article 35-A case till January 2019 is shot in the arm of the Governor’s administration. Now he has to move ahead to put J&K back on the track. He has to carry forward the good work which was started by his predecessor Governor N N Vohra.
The Union Ministry & leaders on many occasions have stated that as the imposition of Governor’s rule has helped In restoring peace in the Valley. The peaceful conduct of Amarnath Yatra during Governor’s rule is being projected as a “big achievement.” In fact it has proved that Kashmiris are peace lovers and they don’t believe in violence.
Everyone knows that ruling J&K is not that easy and the Governor Malik would need to use all his experience and skills to tackle this strife torn state, where uncertainty is the order of the day.
The writer is member of JK Youth Alliance
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