Chetan Prabhakar
The resignation of G.C. Murmu as a Lieutenant Governor and appointment of Manoj Sinha as a new Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (UT) came as a surprise to all; as it happened in a night. What a swift yet strategic move! This must be an outcome of a discreetly made, well knitted and planned strategy. This is how Modi and Shah Jodi works and plans actions discreetly but seamlessly.
The move also seems to be a result of 14 days quarantine of great strategic leader of India, Mr. Shah who went on quarantine just few days before making this swift, surprising and strategic move. Mr. Sinha, a seasoned politician is made LG of the UT at a right time; when leadership of BJP in the UT needed someone with political acumen and prudence to lead and deal with the political scenario of the UT of J&K, at a juncture, when the other political parties of UT are making huge hue and cry for restoration of 4G services, assembly elections, domicile law, victimhood of abrogation of 370 and 35A and restoration of statehood.
The previous move to appoint Mr. Murmu as the first LG of UT seems to be; to understand the bureaucratic, administrative and political malpractices and financial irregularities took place in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, and now, he is made Comptroller and Auditor General of India whose is an authority, which audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the State Governments. During the past one year and by now, Mr. Murmu must have learnt sufficiently about the nitty gritty and issues in the UT of J&K and now, he must be knowing what buttons to press to know all or any of the past financial and/or other irregularities to open a can of worms for the opposition parties and their leaders; in order to fulfil the mission that Jammu and Kashmir should be ethical rather than a corrupt state.
It appears to be the most appropriate time when the UT needed a person with high political acumen and prudence to lead the Government and deal with the political upheavals of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. With appointment of Mr. Sinha in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, the whole political scenario is expected to change whether it is the demand of assembly elections, restoration of statehood, victimhood of abrogation of 370 and 35A, no relief from militancy, restoration of 4G internet services and domicile law. In the UT, where there are seasoned opposition political leaders like Dr. Farooq Abdullah and others; it was the need of BJP to appoint a seasoned politician to spearhead the affairs of UT in a political way.
The only questions are: What was the need to choose a political leader from Uttar Pradesh to be appointed as LG of UT of J&K? Whether there was no one from the current BJP leadership of J&K who is eligible and could be appointed as LG of the UT of J&K? Does this mean that Modi & Shah do not see any potential in the current BJP leadership of J&K to hold the position of LG of UT? Does this mean that there is a political vacuum of seasoned and deserving political leaders from and within the UT of J&K?
Whatever it may be? This strategic move of Modi and Shah Jodi seems to be strategic in view that now is the time, when there is a demand of assembly elections and restoration of statehood among many other issues by many seasoned opposition political leaders of Jammu & Kashmir, that having a political leader with mass pull, experience, integrity and honesty was much needed. As per various news, Mr. Sinha is recognized as a leader of masses and also considered as a firm administrator. He has been counted among most honest MPs and is also fondly called ‘Vikas Purush’ by his followers. So finally, we are going to see some ‘Vikas’ in the UT of J&K under the leadership of ‘Vikas Purush’.
Now, let us see how the NDA Government handles the political affairs of the UT with the help of a seasoned and honest imaged political leader in the scenario that he is an outside to the UT of J&K and may not have sufficient cultural and political know how of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. Be that it may be; the move is strategic and is taken at a right time. It can also be considered a step before the check and mate to be made by the BJP to the opposite political parties in the UT, provided Mr. Sinha clears the floor test which can be; resolution of the issues faced by the people of J&K such as restoration of 4G services, bringing normalcy within the UT, assembly elections, the demand of restoration of statehood and above all, bringing an environment of peace, certainty and stability in the UT. Welcome to the UT of J&K, Mr. Sinha. All the very best.
(The author is an Advocate at Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Jammu)
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