Tensions have escalated between Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, with both leaders engaging in a heated exchange over the timeline for restoring statehood to the region. The public spat, which unfolded on the Union Territory's Foundation Day, highlights the widening rift in the region's power-sharing arrangement.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha, addressing a gathering, asserted that the absence of statehood should not be used as an excuse for the elected government's inaction. He directly criticized the National Conference government, led by Chief Minister Abdullah, stating, "The excuse that work will be done only after statehood is granted cannot be accepted". Sinha further added, "Fooling people must stop," urging the government to utilize its existing powers to work for the welfare of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. He referenced Union Home Minister Amit Shah's previously stated roadmap for Jammu and Kashmir, which includes delimitation, followed by assembly elections, and restoration of statehood "at an appropriate time". Sinha claimed that some individuals seemed to be creating problems with this plan. He also emphasized that the assembly elections were conducted for a Union Territory assembly, meaning that the elected government should not claim that work cannot be done until statehood is restored.
Chief Minister Abdullah swiftly responded to the Lieutenant Governor's remarks, accusing the Raj Bhavan of obstructing governance and blaming it for recent security incidents. Without directly naming Sinha, Abdullah alluded to the Pahalgam attack on April 22nd, in which 26 people were killed. He questioned the administration's responsibility for security, stating that if it were under his control, such incidents would not occur. Abdullah also pointed to the negative economic impact of the attack, including decreased sales of handicrafts and vacant hotels and houseboats.
Abdullah further stated that he was doing his job despite the "hurdles" created by the current UT setup. He also demanded clarity on the conditions for restoring statehood, so that his government would know what steps to take. "As a CM, I should know that this is the milestone or goal we have to reach where J&K will get its statehood. We should at least come to know that this is the target," he said. He also criticized the administration for neglecting the elected government, noting the absence of senior officials at official events.
Farooq Abdullah, National Conference president and former Chief Minister, accused Lieutenant Governor Sinha of "lying to the public," alleging that the LG's office controls all major decisions in the Union Territory. He claimed that Sinha had never spoken the truth and that the IPS and IAS officers were under his control.
The exchange between Sinha and Abdullah occurred on the sixth anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir's reorganization as a Union Territory, following the revocation of Article 370. Sinha praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for the region's "integration and development," invoking Sardar Patel and Syama Prasad Mookerjee as inspirations. While Omar Abdullah leads the Council of Ministers, key domains like police, finance, and land remain under the Lieutenant Governor's control. The Supreme Court had directed the Centre in December 2023 to restore statehood "at the earliest" following the assembly elections, but the timeline remains a point of contention.
