‘Stable Govt was not possible from parties with opposing ideologies’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 22: A day after dissolving the State Legislative Assembly following claims and counter claims by barring political factions, Governor Satya Pal Malik today fully justified his decision saying “extensive horse trading” to “buy MLAs” with “underhanded dealings” was on and it would have been impossible for the political parties with “opposing ideologies” to form a stable Government in the State.
Defending his decision to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, which had been kept under suspended animation since imposition of Governor’s rule in the State on June 20 by then Governor NN Vohra, Malik said he couldn’t allow an “unworkable alliance” the right to form Government in the State.
He asserted that PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti should have sent him the letter staking claim to form the Government in the State a day before the Eid holiday at Raj Bhawan.
He hit out at the PDP and the NC, claiming they had told him that they had a majority but he was not given any proof for it.
He said the PDP, NC and Congress staked claim to form Government when just one month was left for the Governor’s rule to end.
He maintained that he had acted in the State’s interest and according to its Constitution. On the Opposition’s threat to move court against dissolution of the Legislative Assembly on the day the PDP-Congress-National Conference alliance staked claim to form the coalition Government, Malik said those who wanted to move court, could do so as it was their right.
“For the past 15 to 20 days, I have been getting reports of large-scale horse trading. MLAs were being threatened and several types of underhanded dealings were going on,” Malik said.
“Mehbooba (Mufti) Ji told me a week before that her MLAs were being threatened through the National Investigating Agency (NIA). Another side said MLAs were being lured with large-scale money. Horse trading had started 20 days ago,” he asserted.
“Had I given any side opportunity (for Government formation), it would have created more mess. The value system of politics would have been destroyed. I could not afford that,” the Governor said.
He said it would have been impossible for parties with “opposing political ideologies” to form a stable Government in the State, a reference towards National Conference and PDP, the bitter political rivals.
“We would have altered this situation, had we given an unstable Government (to the State). An opportunist Government would have been the outcome of this process. We never wanted instability in a sensitive State,” Malik said.
He said the NC, PDP, Congress would have fought with each other and it would have created a mess.
“I have no personal interest and for me the interest of the State is prime. For that, I acted and dissolved the Assembly as per the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. It was the best action as per my wisdom and I have not been partial,” he said.
The Governor said when he came to the State he had made his stand clear that he would not be involved in any underhanded dealing or defection and would not approve Government formation on the basis of threat. He said he wanted polls to be held and an elected Government formed.
“Why did they not act before and why did no one come from their side or the other side. I did not accept the claims of both sides. The decision that was necessary for the State, it was taken by me”, he said.
He claimed both Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah wanted dissolution of the Assembly and had been demanding it for the past five months.
“Why are they adopting double standards now? They should be happy that it has happened,” he said.
He said the Election Commission would decide on the Assembly elections.
Wednesday was Eid, he said when asked about the fax not working in the Raj Bhavan, resulting in his office not receiving the PDP’s letter staking claim to form Government as well as the NC’s letter of support.
“Both of them (Mufti and Abdullah) are devout Muslims. They should know offices are closed on Eid. Even my cook was in his house, leave aside the fax operator. There was no system. They should have sent a man with the letter. These are lame excuses,” he said.
The Governor said even if someone had delivered him the letter, the decision to dissolve the Assembly was his stand.
“I have taken this decision as per the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. There is a mechanism that I do not have to look towards New Delhi or move to Parliament or seek permission from the President. I just had to inform them,” he said.
Asked about Mufti’s letter staking claim that was available on social media, he asked: “whether social media forms the Government?”
“I neither tweet, nor do I see tweets. Before yesterday, they had time. There are several flights from Srinagar, why did not they send their man. It is all wrong,” he said.
On another question about allegations that he acted on BJP’s instruction, he said, “The NC, PDP and Congress knew what the BJP headquarters wanted.”
“The BJP headquarters was one contender. If I followed the BJP’s instruction, I would have called their party but I did not call any party. I acted in best interest of the Constitution,” Malik said.
On BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta’s allegation that the PDP-Congress-NC tie up was formed on the directions of Pakistan, he said he could not comment on it without proof.
“But this grand alliance is opportunistic and they have no understanding between them,” Malik claimed.
The Governor abruptly dissolved the State Assembly Wednesday night, hours after the PDP staked claim to form a Government with the backing of rival NC and the Congress.
This was followed by another bid from the two-member People’s Conference which claimed the support of 25-member BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.
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