Guv favours early Assembly polls

Governor Satya Pal Malik addresses Police Commemoration day at Zewan in Srinagar on Sunday. —Excelsior/Shakeel
Governor Satya Pal Malik addresses Police Commemoration day at Zewan in Srinagar on Sunday. —Excelsior/Shakeel

We are putting efforts to improve situation: Malik

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Governor Satya Pal Malik today favoured holding of early Assembly elections in the State, saying he does not think a popular Government can be formed out of the present House after the collapse.
Malik said that Government can’t be formed out of the present Assembly. “I don’t think so. At least, I will not be part of any ‘dhandli’ (shenanigans). I have not been given any such indication either by the Prime Minister or by any other Central leader”, he told a news agency in an interview.
Malik said that he wishes that the elections were held at the earliest. “The decision will be taken by the Centre and the Election Comm-ission. My job is to discharge dual responsibility (of Governor and Admin-istrator) which I will continue to do… I wish that elections are held at the earliest,” he said.

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The Governor said that his administration would seek deferment of the hearings on the contentious issue of Article 35A of the Constitution in the Supreme Court. “We will inform the Supreme Court that we are not an elected Government and request that the matter be deferred till an elected Government is in place,” he said.
Speaking to reporters at the Police Commemoration day function at Zewan, Governor said that they are putting strong efforts to improve the ground situation.
Malik expressed appreciation of the State police for the peaceful and incident free conduct of polling during the Urban Local Body elections, held in the State.
He said he would ensure that Centre releases maximum funds for the Municipalities and Panchayats of the State. He said the allocation of funds would prove that the elections were for the benefit of the people. “We will ensure maximum funds are released so that these institutes are empowered. Moreover, it will prove that the elections were for the people of the State,” he told reporters.
The Governor said that the people coming out to cast their vote was a positive sign considering the overall situation of the Valley. “Positive sign is that people came out to vote. People pelted stone at them but they were shoved away by voters. Thousands of voters cast their votes on the last day alone,” he said, adding certain positive developments have unfolded in the Valley for last some months.
Paying tributes to the police personnel at the Police Commemoration day function here, Malik said that the State will always remember sacrifices of the Police men for upholding law, safety and security of the people.
The Governor appreciated the synergy and coordination between the police and Central security forces and the Army in dealing with the sensitive security scenario.
Malik expressed his solidarity with the families of the martyrs stating that it must be ensured that all welfare schemes of J&K Police which provide financial assistance to the families of martyred police personnel, in particular the rehabilitation and education of their children, be implemented in right earnest besides being made more suitable and convenient.
Malik informed the gathering of the recent decisions taken by his administration to address various issues faced by the J&K Police including sanction to the creation of 8,531 non-gazetted posts in the Police department to address the stagnation at various levels in the non-gazetted cadre, by improving their promotion prospects; enhancement of ex-gratia relief to police martyrs from Rs. 48 Lakh to Rs. 70 Lakh and from Rs. 14.50 Lakh to Rs 30 lakh for martyred SPOs; provision of free education for two children of martyred personnel of J&K Police in private schools in the State up to class 12th. Besides, he further assured that his administration shall address all the pressing issues faced by the police personnel.
Immediately upon the arrival of the Governor at Zewan, a Roll of Honour was presented in the memory of those policemen who died in the past one year. He also laid floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial.
Malik paid homage to 414 Police Personnel from the State Police Forces and Paramilitary forces including 46 from Jammu and Kashmir Police, who were martyred during the period 01.09.2017 to 31.08.2018, while performing various duties across India.
Earlier, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of National Police Memorial at Delhi, Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, read out the names of police personnel across the country, including those from J&K Police, CRPF and BSF, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty during the past one year.
He recalled the sacrifices of the martyrs, who laid down their lives in the service of the nation. He said the nation is indebted to the martyrs, it is because of the sacrifices of martyrs that we are able to live in peaceful atmosphere.”
Singh, on the occasion, thanked the Governor’s administration for announcement of various welfare measures for the next of kin of the police martyrs and personnel.
The contingents of different forces including J&K Police, ITBP, CRPF, BSF, SSB, IRP, JKAP and Ladies contingent on the beats of Pipe and Brass Bands participated in the parade. Governor was the chief guest on the occasion, former chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Advisors to Governor, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ganie, BB Vyas, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary Home RK Goyal were present on the occasion.
Former Directors General of Police M M Khajuria, M N Sabharwal, Gopal Sharma, Kuldeep Khoda, P S Gill and retired ADGP Madan Lal were also present.
Governor led the Advisors, civil and police officers in laying wreaths at the martyrs memorial. He also inspected the blood donation camp orgsanised by the police where a number of Jawans and officers donated the blood. Families of the martyrs were also present on the occasion.

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