Without taking names, Choudhary said if someone thinks that he could “crush the mandate of the people” he won’t be allowed because “the government is not scared and is ready to fight for the people”.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. (Express Photo)
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The friction between the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir and the Raj Bhavan appears to have come out in the open. Taking on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in what appears to be the first direct confrontation since his government was elected last year, senior National Conference leader and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accused him of “running a proxy government” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Without taking names, Choudhary said if someone thinks that he could “crush the mandate of the people” he won’t be allowed because “the government is not scared and is ready to fight for the people”.
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This is the first direct attack on L-G Sinha by the National Conference government. While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has so far been treading cautiously, Choudhary’s tirade appears to have brought to the fore the friction between the elected government and the Raj Bhavan.
While the transfer of officers has been a bone of contention between Raj Bhawan and the elected government, it is not clear what was the immediate trigger for Choudhary’s tirade against L-G Sinha.
“He should understand that he is playing with the Constitution of India,” Choudhary said.
Choudhary then accused the BJP of running a “proxy government” through L-G Sinha and demanded the return of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The government, Choudhary said, would take to the streets if needed.
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“(If) someone thinks that he will be able to crush the mandate of the people chosen in democracy, he will not be able to do it. What harm will they do to us — those protected by God and the people, who have voted for us,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
“Do not think that we will get scared… We are not ones to get scared. We are ones to fight,” Choudhary said.
It had been hoped that the Lt Governor would accept the people’s mandate, Choudhary said.
“But it seems that some things are not getting right and when such an action happens, be it a transfer or anything else, then don’t celebrate it as some sort of bravery. He should think that he is crushing the democracy of India,” the NC leader said.
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He went on to say that the NC was silent “because of their leader” Omar Abdullah.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
