Positive message for J&K from Delhi amid rising tensions

Amid rising tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has brought a very positive message from New Delhi. The message is that the highest level in government of India wants to see that in no way should the Pahalgam attack derail the process of governance and development in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister divulged this during a high level meeting with officers in Srinagar after his latest visit to the Union Capital where he called on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Omar Abdullah said that it is the responsibility of the J&K government to see what centre wants and will have to take care of it. He viewed that the efforts of the government should become visible in the coming six months on governance, delivery of public services and overall improvement in government functioning. Chief Minister stated that his government needs to focus now on things that are under its control.

Right now Jammu and Kashmir being a union territory has a dual power system. Some important matters like security and law and order are with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. There is yet no consensus between the Chief Minister’s office and Raj Bhawan regarding Transaction of Business Rules (TBRs). Some time back the elected government had framed the TBRs and sent those to the Lieutenant Governor for approval but those were returned with some objections. The Omar Abdullah led cabinet on May 5, resubmitted the TBRs to Raj Bhawan with the observation that the rules are not in violation of the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019.

It is to be seen how the Raj Bhawan responds this time. It is also a fact that in absence of the Transaction of Business Rules there will be some confusion and misunderstanding at some levels in some matters. Till a consensus is finally reached the elected government will have to focus on the matters under its control and Raj Bhawan on the matters under its jurisdiction. Much time has been already lost as the elected government had to first understand the new system and act accordingly.

Earlier, it was being expected that after the top government offices will re-start functioning from Srinagar in the first week of May after a gap of six months, some more headway would be made in the direction of development and governance. But then Pahalgam terror attack happened on April 22. Not only were the innocent human lives lost but the tourism and some other sectors too suffered badly. After the attack the union government took several diplomatic actions against Pakistan and is now as per the media reports gearing up for a major action. Tension is mounting along LoC and international border. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding series of crucial meetings in New Delhi with defence and home ministry top authorities besides other senior officials. The nation wide civil defence mock drills are scheduled on May 7. These are first such drills after the 1971 war, media reports say.

However, amid this tense situation, it is being expected that the message from New Delhi that the Pahalgam attack should not derail the path of governance and development in J&K gets the desired results on the ground.

While there is no consensus yet on Transaction of Business Rules, the issue regarding restoration of statehood has also become more uncertain after the Pahalgam attack. Prior to the tragedy, the J&K elected government was forcefully demanding the restoration and the central government leadership used to say that the statehood will be restored at an appropriate time. But now after the Pahalgam attack the scenario has changed. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently said that while the whole country is shocked over the Pahalgam incident, making a demand for statehood will be improper at this time. He said the demand will be made at an appropriate time in future.

While the people, political parties and government were on the same page in condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, the senior leadership of NC and PDP suddenly resorted to allegations and counter allegations against each other. This mud slinging caused concern among some of the political circles here. Some openly and some privately said that such type of utterances can have serious repercussions. The leadership of both the parties was requested by other leaders to stop making such statements and behave responsibly and with maturity and foresightedness at this time.

Author is senior editor,

Greater Kashmir