Move comes after meetings with Nadda, Santosh
*Sinha now left with only one Advisor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 20: In a significant political development, Farooq Khan today resigned as Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after his meeting with top BJP leadership in New Delhi including president Jagat Prakash Nadda and BL Santosh, general secretary (Organization) and is tipped to be given important assignment in Jammu and Kashmir BJP shortly.
Highly placed sources confirmed to the Excelsior that Khan put in his papers as Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor soon after his one-to-one meetings with Nadda and Santosh in New Delhi amid reports that the party high command is likely to give a major political assignment to him in Jammu and Kashmir.
The development comes a day after two-day visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Jammu during which Khan also met him here amid talks that Jammu and Kashmir could go to Assembly elections six to eight months after submission of report by the Delimitation Commission.
“Farooq Khan was called to New Delhi by top political leadership of the BJP. He met Nadda and Santosh this morning for about half an hour each. After talks with two BJP leaders, Khan resigned as Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor,” sources said, adding that Khan is on way back to Jammu.
Within the next couple of days, Khan is likely to rejoin the BJP in Jammu as he had to quit the party earlier to become Administrator of Lakshadweep and then as Advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
Khan had joined the BJP ahead of 2014 Parliamentary elections during a BJP rally at Hiranagar in Kathua after retiring as Inspector General of Police (IGP) in 2013. He was IPS officer of 1994 batch. He played a major role in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir as a police officer.
He served as BJP national secretary and was also the Incharge of BJP Minority Morcha and party’s affairs in Nagaland besides being spokesperson of the party in Jammu and Kashmir.
He remained Administrator of Lakshadweep island before being appointed as Advisor to the Governor in Jammu and Kashmir in July, 2019. Since then, he continued as Advisor here.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has now been left with only one Advisor—Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, who is Retired Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Another Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Bashir Khan resigned on October 5, 2021 after his name figured in fake gun license racket. Prior to that, Advisor KK Sharma was appointed as the State Election Commissioner (SEC).
Farooq Khan’s resignation assumed significance in the wake of recent statement by Home Minister Amit Shah that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir can be held within six to eight months of submission of the Delimitation Commission report.
The Delimitation Commission is due to finalize recommendations on or before May 6, the twice extended timeline for the Panel after which Electoral Rolls have to be updated for conduct of Assembly elections.
As per the sources, Khan could play important role in Jammu and Kashmir BJP.
The rise of Khan, the second high-profile Muslim who joined the BJP after author and former MP MJ Akbar, has been quick. Within few months of joining, the BJP, he was appointed BJP’s national secretary, then Administrator of Lakshadweep followed by Advisor to Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
It may be mentioned that Khan as a police officer in J&K led the March 1996 operation at Hazratbal shrine in which 18 militants were killed. He was the brain behind the creation of Special Task Force of Jammu and Kashmir Police which was later converted into the Special Operations Group (SOG). He has been the recipient of President’s Medals for Gallantry, Bravery and Distinguished Services.
Khan’s grandfather, Col Peer Mohammad, was the first State president of Jammu and Kashmir Jana Sangh and was in the last Dogra rule, Hari Singh’s army.
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