Srinagar: J&K’s Governing National Conference (NC) and the Congress on Friday passed a resolution on the alleged usury of the powers through the transfer of the officials to the Lieutenant-Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha and warned to the Center-appointed authority “not to push them on the wall”.
A meeting in the ultimatum Srinagar was called by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the MLAs of Nekan, Congress and two independents supported the state government. A separate resolution was passed in the meeting condemning the Waqf Act passed by Parliament.
Although Nekan and his colleagues did not name Sinha, LG offered a rare reaction to claims. On the occasion of an incident in Jammu, Sinha said, “With full responsibility, I am saying that I have done nothing beyond the J&K Reorganization Act passed by Parliament on August 5, 2019.
On April 1, a bone of the dispute emerged when Sinha ordered the transfer of 48 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, while the CM and other members of his National Conference (Nekan) were away for the Eid holidays.
After abolishing the special status under Article 370, a power-sharing structure between the government and LG has been worked since the NC assumed NC in the last six months after the specific status can be revoked. According to NC, LG has powers to transfer IAS officers, while the elected government enhances similar rights over JKAS cadre.
At Friday’s meeting, Nekan and his colleagues made it clear that they would not carry forward any “intervention” and declared that a similar trick would be taken to the “assembly floor” in the future.
Neck MLA and spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq claimed that Omar -led government was coordinating with LG. “This coordination should not be wrong for weakness. We are here with our final appeal – don’t push us on the wall. The people of J&K gave a mandate in October 2024 through an election (result) and should be respected. Any person who failed to do so is insulting the people of J&K and their mandate,” SADIQ said. Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat supported Sadiq’s claim and announced his party to stand with Nekan and Omar on the issue.
Many NC leaders believe that transfer of revenue officials, such as SDMS and Tehsildar and the amount to claim power over the entire bureaucracy, while presenting them as laws-and order officers. They say that these revenue officials are entrusted with law and order duty on occasions, but it does not bring them under LG. Since J&K became UT, LG handles the Home Department.
Omar’s rivals took potshots at Friday’s meeting, NC suggested that the Center and its officials had already “surrendered”.
“People bring Omar to the office to release the prisoners, provide a sense of security and employment to the youth. Instead, his own department employees were abolished and kept quiet. Once they (NC) power, he said that he would not take a conflict with the Center.
PDP MLA Wahid Parra resonated ideas. Parra said, “Nekan has once appointed his own Sadri Riyasat (President) and PM to J&K. It is now transferring revenue (officials).” People’s Conference MLA Sajad Lone compared Omar’s party to a “unhappy worker who agrees to continue on the current wages”.
