JK transfer row: Ruling MLAs call for respecting people’s mandate; say ‘our silence not weakness’
Srinagar: Amid differences with the Raj Bhavan over transfer of state officials, MLAs from the ruling NC-led alliance in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday stressed the need for all to respect people’s mandate, asserting “our silence” should not be construed as weakness.
“We are repeatedly saying this and this is our final request that do not push us to the wall,” National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq told reporters here after an emergency legislature party meeting of the ruling allies.
The meeting passed two resolutions: one condemning the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill by parliament, and the other calling for respecting people’s mandate.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday ordering the transfer of 48 officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS).
The Abdullah government regards the LG’s move as a violation of the legal and administrative framework under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
Briefing reporters after the nearly two-hour-long emergency meeting of the ruling MLAs here, NC spokesperson Sadiq said, “The elections in Jammu and Kashmir were praised by the top leadership of this country for enthusiastic voting. And, now if anyone stands in a denial mode or tries to undermine it, is showing disrespect to the people’s mandate.”
He said the ruling alliance is of firm opinion that the mandate of the people needs to be respected and “our coordination, whether it is with Delhi or with the LG administration, is only aimed at solving the problems of the people”.
“Our coordination or our silence should not be taken as our weakness,” he said.
Meanwhile, LG Sinha defended the transfer orders, telling a media event in Delhi he has acted within his “limits”.
“I would like to make it clear that the J&K Reorganisation Act was passed by the Parliament in 2019. And I am saying with great responsibility that I have not done anything outside this Act. I am well within my domain and I will never do anything outside of that. I know my limits and I will never cross those limits,” he says in the clip recorded at the News18 event.
There have been differences between the Abdullah government and the Raj Bhavan over several administrative issues, but Sinha’s order escalated the disquiet.
Expressing his strong disapproval of the transfer order, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, LG Sinha and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, asserting these orders were issued without any “lawful authority” and undermine the authority of the elected government.
According to sources, Abdullah has said the transfer of JKAS officers to cadre posts falls squarely within the elected government’s purview.
The chief minister has been also pressing for the finalisation of the Transaction of Business Rules, which were approved by the cabinet on March 6, and wrote the delay in issuing these rules is contributing to the current administrative friction.
In his letter to Sinha, Abdullah asked him to review the “unilateral” decision, saying such orders undermine the functioning and authority of the elected government.
Abdullah asked the chief secretary to ensure no transfer or posting orders for non-All India Services officers were issued without the CM’s prior approval.
In his letter to Shah, Abdullah said a series of actions by the LG, including the contested transfers, have eroded the authority of the elected government, highlighting a growing tension between the elected administration and the LG’s office.
The unscheduled legislature party meeting, chaired by Abdullah and attended by NC president Farooq Abdullah, was held at Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary’s residence at the Gupkar Road here.
The meeting was also attended by cabinet ministers, all NC MLAs, four Congress legislators, led by chief whip Nizamuddin Bhat, and Independents supporting the Abdullah government.
The meeting also assumes significance in view of scheduled three-day visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“The meeting held a threadbare discussion on various issues and passed two important resolutions – one condemning the passing of Waqf (Amendment) Bill (in both houses of parliament) which we consider anti-minority,” Tanvir Sadiq said.
He said the National Conference-led government wants a cordial relation with New Delhi and the Raj Bhavan here, but it should not be considered “our weakness”.
“We want to run this government with love and respect and work smoothly. It should not be construed as our weakness. We are repeatedly saying this and this is our final request that do not push us to the wall. We want coordination among the Centre, the LG administration and our government. Do not consider our silence as weakness,” he said.
Nizamuddin Bhat of the Congress said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the prevailing political situation and the Constitutional and administrative affairs.
“Both long term and short-term issues of immediate consideration came up for discussion during the meeting… everyone should understand that all the MLAs in the alliance are fully behind the leader of the house — Omar Abdullah,” he said.
Bhat said the party’s J-K president Tariq Hamid Karra and legislature party leader G A Mir could not attend the meeting due to an important party meeting in Delhi. “I was given the mandate to accompany the three other MLAs in the meeting,” he said.
