Delhi wanted me to install Lone-led government in JK: Guv Malik
Says post dissolution of house Omar, Mehbooba expressed happiness
Jammu: In remarks that can embarrass the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has said had he looked to Delhi, he would have had to install a government led by Sajad Lone, and history would have remembered him as a “dishonest man”.
Malik had abruptly dissolved the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly last week 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 led by Lone which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.
During a pre-convocation academic conclave of ITM University in Gwalior on Saturday, he said, “Delhi ki taraf dekhta toh muje Lone ki sarkar banana padhti aur mein ithihas mein ek bayiman aadmi ke tor pe jata…(Had I looked to Delhi, I would have had to install a government led by Lone, and history would have remembered me as a dishonest man).”
“Therefore, I ended up the matter. Whosoever wants to scold, can do so now but I am convinced that whatever I did, was right,” he said in his address after noted journalist Ravish Kumar had pointed out in his speech about faulty fax machine.
The governor also took a dig at the Congress, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference and said that if they were so keen on forming the government, they could have come to Jammu a day earlier and met him.
“It was an Eid holiday and this is an auspicious day. Did they expect the governor to stand by the fax machine and wait for their fax,” Malik said.
“If PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti and NC leader Omar Abdullah were serious about forming a government (by joining hands) in Jammu and Kashmir, they should have rung me up, or sent me a letter,” he said.
After dissolving the state Assembly, both NC vice president Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mufti expressed happiness and claimed that this was what they wanted, Malik said.
“I returned at 4 PM from Delhi and I got a briefing from intelligence officials about the situation. I found it needless to talk to Delhi, because two days ago I had met them all,” he added.
The governor said that without seeking any advice or direction or holding any discussion with Delhi, he took the decision of dissolving the assembly.
Malik said that as per the state Constitution he did not have to take permission from the president or Parliament.
On remarks of the Bharatiya Janata Party that the NC and the PDP attempted to form a coalition government on the direction of Pakistan, he said that he cannot blame Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah because they were children of Sheikh Abdullah, who “chose India” and were nationalists. (PTI)
Press Trust of India
